Cercospora Gossypina

Fungal Disease

Cercospora Gossypina

Fungal Disease

Cercospora Gossypina

Fungal Disease

Cercospora leaf spot is caused by Cercospora gossypina, which is typically a weak pathogen but can become aggressive when plant stress from nutrient deficiencies, drought, or a combination of stress factors occur before leaf senescence. Often occurring along with Alternaria and Stemphylium leaf spot, Cercospora leaf spot may lead to premature defoliation of upland cotton, but no documented reductions in lint yield or fiber quality have been reported. Symptoms include reddish-brown lesions on leaves that enlarge with white to light brown centers and narrow red borders. Lesions are circular, reaching up to 2 cm in diameter, and may have concentric light and dark bands resembling target spot.

In the field it is often difficult to differentiate Cercospora Leaf Spot from other foliar diseases