Taxonomy,distribution and biology of lettuce powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum sensu stricto)

This paper reviews the taxonomy, biology, importance, host–pathogen interactions and control of lettuce powdery mildew. The main causal agent of this disease, Golovinomyces cichoracearum s.s., is an important powdery mildew pathogen of many members of the family Asteraceae. The pathogen is distributed worldwide and occurs on Lactuca sativa as well as wild Lactuca spp. and related taxa (e.g. Cichorium spp.). Powdery mildew of lettuce can be a major problem in production areas with favourable environmental conditions for disease development (dry, hot weather). The fungus grows ectophytically and appears as white, powdery growth on both the upper and lower sides of leaves. There is rather limited information on the geographic distribution of powdery mildew on wild Lactuca spp. Most L. sativa cultivars have been found to be susceptible. Large variability in virulence was confirmed and existence of different races is supposed. Resistance in L. sativa and some related wild Lactuca spp. is characterized by race‐specificity, but the genetic background of resistance is poorly understood. Sources of resistance are known in L. saligna and L. virosa. Lettuce powdery mildew can be effectively controlled by common fungicides (e.g. sulphur, myclobutanil, quinoline, strobilurins, etc.) and protective compounds (e.g. extract of neem oil, Reynoutria sachaliensis extracts). However, fungicide resistance may arise. Non‐fungicidal activators of plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR) had no direct effect on the causal agent. Future issues regarding lettuce powdery mildew research are summarized.     

Viruses and virus-like pathogens transmitted by zoosporic fungi1

The viruses and virus-like pathogens transmitted by zoosporic fungi are reviewed. The nine furoviruses (and possible members of the group), with labile rod-shaped particles, have nearly all been shown to be transmitted by plasmodiophoromycete vectors. As they have been reviewed extensively elsewhere, they are covered only briefly; important examples are beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus and potato mop-top furovirus. Five viruses with filamentous particles, tentatively recognized as poty viruses, are transmitted by Polymyxa graminis. Within this group, wheat yellow mosaic virus should be considered to include wheat spindle streak mosaic virus, while the M and NM forms of barley yellow mosaic virus, the best known members of the group, should probably be regarded as distinct viruses. Chytrids (especially Olpidium brassicae) transmit a variety of viruses in different groups (e.g. tobacco necrosis necrovirus, lettuce big-vein virus, melon necrotic spot carmovirus, red clover necrotic mosaic dianthovirus). Finally, several diseases caused by uncharacterized pathogens appear to be transmitted by O. brassicae: freesia leaf necrosis, lettuce ring necrosis, pepper yellow vein, watercress chlorotic leaf spot.     

Further characterization of dandelion yellow mosaic virus from lettuce and dandelion

A damaging virus isolated in the Netherlands from lettuce was studied and compared with a virus isolated from dandelion orginating from Czechoslovakia. It was found to biologically resemble dandelion yellow mosaic virus incompletely described from dandelion and lettuce in Great Britain (Kassanis, 1944, 1947) and from dandelion in Germany (Hein, 1963). Mechanical transmission was greatly improved by buffer solution and transmission byMyzus persicae seemed to be in the non-persistent manner. Longevity in vitro of the virus hardly exceeded one day. Thermal inactivation was between 60 and 65 °C and the dilution end-point was between 10 000 and 100 000. It was still infectious in leaf material dried and stored over CaCl₂ at 4 °C for 6 1/2 years. The virus was isolated and purified with difficulty and was found to consist of one type of spherical particle of ca 30 nm diameter, with a sedimentation coefficient of 159 S, a buoyant density of 1.42 g.cm^?3 and an A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio of 1.67. An antiserum was prepared with a titre of 256 in the agar double-diffusion test. The virus could be identified in crude extracts from lettuce andChenopodium amaranticolor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but not by agar double diffusion. It could only be visualized in crude sap in the electron microscope after trapping of virus particles on antiserum-coated grids. The virus cannot yet be assigned to any known virus group. It is of potential economic importance to lettuce because of its occurrence in widely differing regions in Europe, its aggressiveness and virulence on 22 out of 23 lettuce cultivars tested (and on endive) and its pathogenicity toLactuca genotypes which are resistant to lettuce mosaic virus and other important pathogens of lettuce. ‘Laibacher Eis’ was the only cultivar showing some tolerance.     

Phenotypic and histological expression of different genetic backgrounds in interactions between lettuce, wild Lactuca spp., L. sativa × L. serriola hybrids and Bremia lactucae

Phenotypic and histological responses of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and wild relatives L. saligna, L.␣virosa as well as interspecific crosses derived from L. sativa × L. serriola to two races of Bremia lactucae (CS2, CS9) were investigated. With the exception of L. sativa genotypes, all accessions and hybrids expressed incomplete or complete resistance to both pathogen races, with slight differences at seedling and adult plant stages, respectively. Histological features of the interactions (development of pathogen infection structures and host hypersensitive response to attempted infection) were studied on leaf discs 48 h after inoculation. Interactions with similar phenotypic expression of resistance were characterized by significant variation in rate of development of pathogen infection structures and hypersensitive reactions. Differences found within eight Lactuca spp. accessions and hybrids challenged by two distinct pathogen races are interpreted and discussed.     

Molecular and biological characterization of two potyviruses infecting lettuce in southeastern France

Several potyviruses affect lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and chicory (Cichorium spp.) crops worldwide and are important constraints for production because of the direct losses that they induce and/or because of their seed transmission. Here, the molecular and biological properties are described of two potyviruses that were recently isolated from lettuce plants showing mosaic or strong necrotic symptoms in an experimental field in southeastern France. The first potyvirus belongs to the species Endive necrotic mosaic virus and is present in a large number of wild plant species, especially Tragopogon pratensis. It is unable to infect lettuce cultivars with a resistance to Turnip mosaic virus that is present in many European cultivars and probably conferred by the Tu gene. The second potyvirus belongs to the tentative species lettuce Italian necrotic virus and was not observed in wild plants. It infected all tested lettuce cultivars. Wild accessions of Lactuca serriola, Lactuca saligna, Lactuca virosa and Lactuca perennis were identified as resistant to one or the other potyvirus and could be used for resistance breeding in lettuce. No resistance against these two potyviruses was observed in the tested Cichorium endivia cultivars. In contrast, all tested Cichorium intybus cultivars or accessions were resistant.     

Diversity of defence mechanisms in plant–oomycete interactions: a case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca</Emphasis> spp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bremia lactucae</Emphasis>

Plant pathogenic oomycetes, including biotrophic downy mildews and hemibiotrophs/necrotrophs such as Phytophthora and Pythium, cause enormous economic losses on cultivated crops. Lettuce breeders and growers face the threat of Bremia lactucae, the causal agent of lettuce downy mildew. This pathogen damages leaf tissues and lettuce heads and is also frequent on wild Asteraceae plants. The interactions of Lactuca spp. with B. lactucae (abbr. lettuce–Bremia) display extreme variability, due to a long co-evolutionary history. For this reason, during the last 30 years, the lettuce–Bremia pathosystem has been used as a model for many studies at the population, individual, organ, tissue, cellular, physiological and molecular levels, as well as on genetic variability and the genetics of host–parasite interactions. The first part of this review summarizes recent data on host–parasite specificity, host variability, resistance mechanisms and genetics of lettuce–Bremia interactions. The second part focuses on the development infection structures. Phenotypic expression of infection, behaviour of B. lactucae on leaf surfaces, the process of penetration, development of primary infection structures, hyphae and haustoria are discussed in relation to different resistance mechanisms. In the third part, the components of host resistance and the variability of defence responses are analysed. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzymes, nitric oxide (NO), phenolic compounds, reorganization of cytoskeleton, electrolyte leakage, membrane damage, cell wall disruption, hypersensitive reaction and plant energetics are discussed in relation to defence responses. In general, the extreme variability of interactions between lettuce and Bremia, and their phenotypic expression, results from diversity of the genetic background. Different mechanisms of resistance are conditioned by an orchestra of defence responses at the tissue, cell, and molecular levels. The various events responsible for defence involve a complex interaction of the processes and reactions mentioned above. This review also provides an overview on the timing of pathogen development, host pathological anatomy, cytology and physiology of lettuce–Bremia associations. The significance of these factors on the expression of different resistance mechanisms (non-host and host resistance, race-specific and race non-specific resistance, field resistance) is discussed.     

Catalog of Micro-Tom tomato responses to common fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens

Lycopersicon esculentum cultivar Micro-Tom is a miniature tomato with many advantages for studies of the molecular biology and physiology of plants. To evaluate the suitability of Micro-Tom as a host plant for the study of pathogenesis, Micro-Tom plants were inoculated with 16 well-known fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens of tomato. Athelia rolfsii, Botryotinia fuckeliana, Oidium sp., Phytophthora infestans, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum caused typical symptoms and sporulated abundantly on Micro-Tom. Micro-Tom was resistant to Alternaria alternata, Corynespora cassiicola, and Fusarium oxysporum. When Micro-Tom was inoculated with 17 isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum, many isolates induced wilt symptoms. Agrobacterium tumefaciens also was pathogenic, causing crown galls on stem tissue after needle prick inoculation. In Micro-Tom sprayed with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, P. s. pv. tabaci, or P. s. pv. glycinea, bacterial populations did not increase, and yellow lesions appeared only on leaves sprayed with P. s. pv. tomato. Tomato mosaic virus, Tomato aspermy virus, and Cucumber mosaic virus systemically infected Micro-Tom, which developed symptoms characteristic of other cultivars of tomato after infection with the respective virus. These results indicated that Micro-Tom was generally susceptible to most of the important tomato pathogens and developed typical symptoms, whereas certain pathogens were restricted by either hypersensitive resistance or nonhost resistance on Micro-Tom. Therefore, an assortment of Micro-Tom–pathogen systems should provide excellent models for studying the mechanism of susceptible and resistant interactions between plants and pathogens.     

Overexpression of StRbohA in Arabidopsis thaliana enhances defence responses against Verticillium dahliae

Plant NADPH oxidases are key regulators of plant–microbe interactions and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential to plant defences against pathogens. A significant part in the role played by ROS has been ascribed to plant respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs). In potato (Solanum tuberosum), where RBOHs were previously shown to be involved in wound-induced oxidative burst, we assessed their expression after inoculation with Verticillium dahliae Kleb. and showed that StRbohA was the only homolog to be differentially induced in potato in response to inoculation. In order to investigate the potential role of this gene in plant protection against wilt diseases, we used Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis to assess the effects of its overexpression on plant responses to V. dahliae. After inoculation with this pathogen, the transformed Arabidopsis line overexpressing StRbohA showed lower disease severity (percent damaged leaf area and vascular discoloration) as compared to the wild type. It also had higher ROS production and more cell death caused by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), compared to the wild type. Suberization of root cells was also more pronounced in the line overexpressing StRbohA, and supports a possible role for StRBOHA in plant resistance to V. dahliae. Together, these findings indicate that overexpressed StRbohA in Arabidopsis enhances the ROS-mediated defence mechanisms against V. dahliae and can be a potential tool to improve plant resistance to this and other soilborne pathogens that cause wilts in economically important crops.     

Differential interactions between strains of Rhizorhapis,Sphingobium, Sphingopyxis or Rhizorhabdus and accessions of Lactuca spp. with respect to severity of corky root disease

Over 100 isolates of Rhizorhapis suberifaciens, Sphingobium (Sb.) sp., Sb. mellinum, Sb. xanthum, Rhizorhabdus sp., and Sphingopyxis sp. (Sphingomonodaceae) were tested for pathogenicity on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivars Salinas and Green Lakes, susceptible and resistant, respectively, or their resistant descendent breeding line (B.L.) 440‐8, to R. suberifaciens type strain CA1^T. Rhizorhabdus sp. CA15 and NL2, R. suberifaciens CA3, and Sphingopyxis CA32 were equally virulent to Green Lakes or B.L. 440‐8 and Salinas. Over 40 accessions from four Lactuca species were tested for resistance to R. suberifaciens CA1^T/CA3 or Rhizorhabdus sp. CA15/NL2. All lettuce accessions with resistance to CA1^T were susceptible to isolates CA15, NL2 and/or CA3. None of the Lactuca lines were highly resistant to all four isolates. There was a significant differential interaction between eight Lactuca lines and ten isolates of Rhizorhapis and related genera with respect to corky root severity. Three strains of isolates were distinguished: (i) isolates with a similar virulence pattern as R. suberifaciens CA1^T, (ii) isolates with a virulence pattern similar to that of R. suberifaciens CA3 and Sphingopyxis sp. CA32, and (iii) isolates of Rhizorhabdus being moderately aggressive to all Lactuca lines. Thus, strains belonging to several genera can cause similar symptoms (a rare phenomenon) but have different virulence patterns on Lactuca species and cultivars.     

Isolation and selection of Hemileia Vastatrix antagonists

Organic coffee growing is rapidly increasing in Brazil, and many diseases, especially coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix), are threatening its production. This study is a first step towards a biocontrol program for coffee rust on organically grown plants. In three organic coffee farms in the state of Minas Gerais, 393 microbial strains including 154 bacterial and 239 fungal strains were isolated from leaves, leaf debris, and soil samples, and in 6 month-old coffee plants, 17 of these isolates reduced both the infection frequency (IF) and the number of H. vastatrix urediniospores produced per leaf (UPL) by more than 70 %. The isolates were identified as eight bacteria isolates, seven Bacillus spp. and one Pseudomonas sp., and nine fungal isolates, four Fusarium spp., two Penicillium spp., one Aspergillus sp., one Acremonium sp. and one Cladosporium sp. Each fungal and bacterial isolate was applied 0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 days before and 0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 days after H. vastatrix inoculation, and the efficiency in reducing both IF and UPL was evaluated. The efficiency was higher and lasted longer when the bacterial isolates were applied before H. vastatrix inoculation. Six Bacillus (B10, B25, B143, B157, B171, B175), two Fusarium (F205, F281), and one Pseudomonas (B286) isolates are potentially efficient as biocontrol agents of H. vastatrix and will be tested using field experiments.     

Einsatz bakterieller Antagonisten zur Bekämpfung von Krankheiten verursacht durch Rhizoctonia solani

Rhizoctonia solani is an important soil-borne pathogen causing diseases in numerous economically important crops. The pathogen R. solani can be responsible for relevant yield losses as well as on lettuce and potato. To develop a biocontrol strategy, two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens L13–6-12 and Serratia plymuthica 3Re4–18 were evaluated against R. solani causing black scurf in potato and bottom rot in lettuce. The disease suppression effect of the two antagonists was tested as well as in a climate chamber and in the field during two vegetation periods. The results of the climate chamber experiments showed, that R. solani can significantly reduced the lettuce growth. The dry mass losses on lettuce and the disease severity on potato sprouts were significantly limited through bacterization. The antagonist L13–6-12 showed best disease suppression effect in climate chamber experiments on both crops. A significant lower disease severity was to observed in treatments with bacterial antagonists as well as on lettuce plants and harvested potato tubers during both vegetation periods. Also the dry mass losses on lettuce were clear reduced in treatments with bacterial antagonists, whereas only a partly limitation of yield losses on potato was to achieved. In summary, the results supported that the use of bacterial antagonists can be part of a control strategy against R. solani.     

Sexual compatibility types of Bremia lactucae isolates originating from Lactuca serriola

Results are given on the occurrence of sexual compatibility types of seven isolates ofBremia lactucae originating fromLactuca serriola (prickly lettuce). It is concluded that the isolates studied are heterothallic. Both compatibility types (B1 en B2) were determined, but type B2 was prevalent. Sexual recombination ofB. lactucae isolates originating from wild and cultivated lettuce may occur.Samenvatting Zeven isolaten vanBremia lactucae, afkomstig vanLactuca serriola in Tsjechoslowakije, zijn onderzocht op hun sexuele compatibiliteitstype door ze te combineren met Nederlandse fysio's vanB. lactucae, afkomstig van cultuursla (L. sativa), waarvan het compatibiliteitstype (B1 of B2) bekend is. Alle isolaten vanL. serriola bleken heterothallisch te zijn, waarbij type B2 meer werd aangetroffen dan type B1. Sexuele recombinatie vanBremia-isolaten van wildeLactuca-soorten en cultuursla blijkt goed mogelijk te zijn.     

Host Range of Oidium lycopersici Occurring in the Netherlands

Nine accessions of three cucurbit species, ten of eight legume species, three of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and 34 of 14 Solanaceae species were inoculated with a Dutch isolate of the tomato powdery mildew fungus (Oidium lycopersici) to determine its host range. Macroscopically, no fungal growth was visible on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), lettuce, petunia (Petunia spp.) and most legume species (Lupinus albus, L. luteus, L. mutabilis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vicia faba, Vigna radiata, V. unguiculata). Trace infection was occasionally observed on melon (Cucumis melo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), courgette (Cucurbita pepo), pea (Pisum sativum) and Solanum dulcamara. Eggplant (Solanum melongena), the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and three wild potato species (Solanum albicans, S. acaule and S. mochiquense) were more heavily infected in comparison with melon, cucumber, courgette, pea and S. dulcamara, but the fungus could not be maintained on these hosts. All seven tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) accessions were as susceptible to O. lycopersici as tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv Moneymaker), suggesting that tobacco is an alternative host. This host range of the tomato powdery mildew differs from that reported in some other countries, which also varied among each other, suggesting that the causal agent of tomato powdery mildew in the Netherlands differ from that in those countries. Histological observations on 36 accessions showed that the defense to O. lycopersici was associated with a posthaustorial hypersensitive response.     

Emerging foliar and soil‐borne pathogens of leafy vegetable crops: a possible threat to Europe

Italy is one of the leading countries for the production and consumption of ready‐to‐eat salads. This has led to a steady increase in the area used over the last decade for the growth of leafy vegetables under intensive systems. The recent new diseases that affect lettuce, wild and cultivated rocket, lamb's lettuce, spinach and basil are reported here: Plectosphaerella cucumerina on wild rocket, endive and lamb's lettuce, Fusarium equiseti on wild and cultivated rocket and lettuce, Myrothecium verrucaria on spinach and wild rocket, Myrothecium roridum on lamb's lettuce, Allophoma tropica on lettuce and Alternaria sp. on basil and rocket are among the new foliar pathogens in Italy. Among the soil‐borne pathogens, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare and Pythium Cluster B2a have recently been isolated in Italy on spinach and Swiss chard, lamb's lettuce and lettuce, while Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, which causes lettuce wilt, is gradually spreading to new countries. Some of the new pathogens have been found to be transmitted by seed and typical of tropical climate, and are thus favoured by the increases in temperature linked to climate change. The globalization of markets, climate change and intensive cultivation are among the factors responsible for the proliferation and spread of some of these new pathogens that are ‘alien’ to Italian production systems.     

First record of the Q biotype of the sweetpotato whitefly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis>, in Guatemala

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) adults and immatures were collected from poinsettia plants at two commercial production greenhouses in Guatemala during an invited tour to observe IPM practices within the facilities. Despite extensive scouting, only low numbers of insects were collected from vegetable, weed and wild ornamentals species located close to these facilities. Prior to molecular and biochemical analyses, whitefly immatures were initially identified as B. tabaci using morphological characters of the pupae to distinguish them from the greenhouse whitefly. The biotype status of adults and immatures was then established using esterase isozyme patterns and MTCO1 sequencing. The Q biotype was the only biotype found on commercially grown poinsettia plants. The previously recorded B biotype was observed outside the greenhouse facilities on Lactuca spp., Hibiscus spp. and Euphorbia spp. (wild poinsettia). The New World biotype was observed on wild poinsettia and field-grown beans (Phaseolus spp.). This is the first report of the Q biotype in Guatemala, and serves notice of the need for greater vigilance in the management of whiteflies on poinsettia mother stock used as a source of cuttings for export to the USA.     

Acidic soil conditions suppress zoospore release from zoosporangia in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Olpidium virulentus</Emphasis>

Lettuce big-vein disease, caused by Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus and Lettuce big-vein associated virus, is suppressed when the pH of field soil becomes acidic. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of soil pH on the activities of Olpidium virulentus, the vector of the viruses. We found that acidic soil, pH less than 6.0, significantly reduced O. virulentus infection of the root and influenced the detection rate of zoospores released in the surrounding water. We concluded that acidic soil suppresses zoospore release from zoosporangia.     

The application of lettuce in the qualitative and quantitative detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia Solani</Emphasis> AG- 1 IA toxins

The toxins produced by Rhizoctonia solani are important causal agents of rice sheath blight. Effective detection of such toxins could improve the determination of the virulence of this agronomically important fungal pathogen. As such, the objective of the current study was to investigate the use of a variety of plant species [annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.), Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. sativa), long leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)] for qualitative detection of R. solani crude toxins (RHCT) to replace the current rice leaf sheath based assay. This is constrained as rice plant takes long time to grow before the leaf sheath can be harvested From the initial screen, it was found that detached lettuce leaves provided the best alternative to rice material. Quantitative determination of RHCT activity by the phosphorus extravasation method was then performed on both rice (Oryza sativa L.) and lettuce. The results demonstrated that the detached lettuce leaves had the advantages of fast onset of symptoms, high sensitivity and non-perishability after inoculation. The quantity of phosphorus exosmosis observed in both lettuce leaves and rice leaf sheaths were significantly positively correlated. These data indicate that lettuce leaves can be used as a substitute material for rice leaf sheaths, with which to study the RHCT both qualitatively and quantitatively. The current study provides a new way to qualitatively and quantitatively detect RHCT.     

Effect of fumonisin B<Subscript>1</Subscript> on the emergence,growth and ceramide synthase gene expression of cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis> (L.) Walp)

Rice production is currently expanding from the south-eastern regions of Australia into northern Australia where indigenous species of wild rice occur widely. A survey of fungal diseases on wild (Oryza australiensis, Oryza spp.) and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) in North Queensland, Australia, in May 2014 revealed a diverse range of fungal genera species, including important pathogens of cultivated rice. Whilst a single isolate of Magnaporthe oryzae (causal agent of rice blast) was obtained from wild rice, Bipolaris oryzae (causal agent of brown spot) was the predominant pathogen detected under North Queensland conditions. For the first time for Australia, we report Rhizoctonia oryzae-sativae (causal agent of aggregate sheath spot) occurring on wild rice. Other pathogens detected on wild rice included Curvularia lunata, Cochliobolus intermedius, Cochliobolus geniculatus, and Fusarium equiseti present in the majority of wild rice samples. Nearby cultivated rice fields harboured additional pathogens not found in wild rice including Fusarium graminearum, Leptosphaeria spegazzinii and Cochliobolus lunatus, causing scab disease, glume blight and leaf blight, respectively. We also confirmed that Bipolaris oryzae from wild rice can infect cultivated rice. This study highlights the importance of wild rice species as alternative hosts harbouring pathogens of cultivated rice and the likely disease threats to expansion of cultivated rice into the same region(s) where wild rice is endemic.     

Sweet Potato Diseases in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria only six pathogens were recorded on sweet potato in 1966. Between 1973 and 1977 about twenty were documented. These cause various foliage, stem, root and tuber diseases. They include diseases caused by Albugo ipomocac, Phaeoisariopsis bataticola, Pseudocercospora timorensis, Phyllosticta batatas, Septoria bataticola, Corticium sp., Elsinoe batatas, Mcliola clavulata, Coleosporium ipomoeae, Puccinia spp., Uromyces sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Plenodomus destruens, Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizopus stolonifera, Monilochaetes infuscans, mosaic virus and internal cork virus. Detailed studies on the nature of the diseases incited under Nigerian conditions have not been carried out on most of the pathogens. However, there are indications that although the foliar diseases may not be of serious economic importance, the stem, root and tuber diseases may be major contributors to post-harvest loss, a common problem in root and tuber production in Nigeria.