This seed-borne disease seems to be spreading in South Africa, and is also more virulent than in earlier years. Fortunately, fungicides are available to deal with the problem.
In South Africa, ascochyta blight was reported only briefly during the 1980s in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. More recently, the disease has been observed often at the Agricultural Research Council’s Cedara Research Station near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. Both the incidence and severity of the disease appear to be increasing.
Ascochyta blight of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a seed-borne disease caused by the fungus Phoma exigua var exigua. It occurs worldwide and can result in severe yield loss.
Cool to moderately cool temperatures (between 16°C and 24°C), high humidity, and rainy and misty weather favour the onset and development of symptoms. The pathogen becomes active at about 30°C.
SYMPTOMS
This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 10 August 2018 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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