The disese has been reported on cassava from many countries. Sunken leaf spots about 1 cm diametre are produced at the base of leaves. in severe cases the infected leaves turn yellow the leaues dries and sheld. Leading to heavy defoliation Stems are also infected causing dieback symptoms starting from the tip. Large number of new shoots with bunch of small leaves are produced at the tips of infected plant which may also dry up in advanced stages. The infection affects the quality of starch and the tubers fetch lessees market value due to infection.
The disease is caused by Colletotrichum manihotis( Glomeralla cingulata) Spraying with 0.2 % Dithane mM-45 or 0.1 %. Bavistin gives good control of the disease. Association of Phyllosticta sp/ Phoma sp are also recorded from dieback infected cassava shoots |
