Anthracnose
Class: Fungi
Common Name
Anthracnose
Scientific name
Different species of the genus Colletotrichum
Potential Hosts
Avocado, mango, strawberry, citrus, banana, apple, pepper, bean, pea, papaya, coffee, agave, aloe vera, pepper, peach, cocoa, almonds, cashew, turmeric, potato, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin, tomato, maple, and various ornamental plants
Who am I?
Anthracnose is the name of a common fungal disease; some species are host specific and others have multiple hosts. Besides causing damages to crops in the field, anthracnose is an important postharvest disease that favors periods of extended cool and wet weather.
Symptoms of anthracnose vary depending on the host, and the infected plant part. Symptoms include: mild and irregular, brown to black spots on leaves and fruits, blighting, and dieback of twigs and branches.
Control measures
Cultural
The sooner the better: It’s easier and more cost effective to overcome infestation and control anthracnose during the initial stage of infestation. Make it a routine to monitor the field regularly and search plants for the presence of anthracnose on a weekly basis.
Sanitation: Sanitation measures are important: Keep your fields’ close surroundings clean from weeds and old plant debris.
Pruning: When possible, take out infected plant parts.
Conventional (chemical)
The following insecticides are used in one or more parts of the world: mancozeb and carbendazim.
Organic
Copper-based fungicides
Caution and careful notice should be taken when using any plant protection products (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides). It is the grower’s sole responsibility to keep track of the legal uses and permissions with respect to the laws in their country and destination markets. Always read the instructions written on labels, and in a case of contradiction, work in accordance to the product label. Keep in mind that information written on the label usually applies to local markets. Pest control products intended for organic farming are generally considered to be less effective in comparison to conventional products. When dealing with organic, biologic, and to some extent a small number of conventional chemical products, a complete eradication of a pest or disease will often require several iterations of a specific treatment or combination of treatments.