BSU researchers confirm “new” crop diseases in Benguet 06-01-08

	NORDIS WEEKLY January 8, 2006
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BSU researchers confirm “new” crop diseases in Benguet
BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 6) — Researchers at the Benguet State University (BSU) confirmed the presence of two “new” diseases, the cabbage ring spot and lettuce dry leaf spot/head rot in cropping areas of Atok, Buguias and Kibungan in Benguet. The identity of the causal organisms of these diseases has been verified as well. Project leader Dr. Asuncion L. Nagpala explains that these diseases may not necessarily be new but may have been mistaken or misdiagnosed in the past as other diseases they resemble. Prior to this report, their presence has not been officially recorded. Nagpala’s team noted that ring spot of cabbage caused by a fungus scientifically named Mycosphaerella brassicola infects cabbage at heading (see photo below). The occurrence of the disease was first noted in 2003 on infected cabbage leaves collected from Guinaoang, Mankayan, Benguet. Diagnosis of infected cabbage collected from Atok (Englandad), Buguias (Cotcot, Lengaoan, Natubleng) and Kibungan (Madaymen) between 2004 and 2005 confirmed the presence of the disease in these areas. Dry leaf spot or head rot of lettuce, on the other hand, was found in Buguias (Loo and Poblacion) and La Trinidad (Balili and Betag – Swamp Area). The disease is caused by a bacterium called Xanthomonas campestris pv vitians and may have been confused with other bacterial diseases of lettuce such as soft rot. These diseases are significant because the leaves they attack are the commercial parts of cabbage and lettuce. Any destruction they cause reduces the income from the crop. These diseases are also soil borne and difficult to eradicate. The disease management often entails additional expense, driving up the cost of production and consequently the price of the product. Information from Nagpala’s survey will be used to guide the development of integrated and sustainable management measures. The project titled, “Survey, Identification and Mapping of Soil borne Plant Pathogens and Pathogen Vectors and Alternative Host Weeds in Benguet” being conducted under the Semi-Temperate Vegetable Research and Development Center (STVRDC) of the Benguet State University is funded under the Philippines Inter-University Cooperation (PIUC) Program by the Belgian government. # via Nordis Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY January 8, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
BSU researchers confirm “new” crop diseases in Benguet
BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 6) — Researchers at the Benguet State University (BSU) confirmed the presence of two “new” diseases, the cabbage ring spot and lettuce dry leaf spot/head rot in cropping areas of Atok, Buguias and Kibungan in Benguet. The identity of the causal organisms of these diseases has been verified as well. Project leader Dr. Asuncion L. Nagpala explains that these diseases may not necessarily be new but may have been mistaken or misdiagnosed in the past as other diseases they resemble. Prior to this report, their presence has not been officially recorded. Nagpala’s team noted that ring spot of cabbage caused by a fungus scientifically named Mycosphaerella brassicola infects cabbage at heading (see photo below). The occurrence of the disease was first noted in 2003 on infected cabbage leaves collected from Guinaoang, Mankayan, Benguet. Diagnosis of infected cabbage collected from Atok (Englandad), Buguias (Cotcot, Lengaoan, Natubleng) and Kibungan (Madaymen) between 2004 and 2005 confirmed the presence of the disease in these areas. Dry leaf spot or head rot of lettuce, on the other hand, was found in Buguias (Loo and Poblacion) and La Trinidad (Balili and Betag – Swamp Area). The disease is caused by a bacterium called Xanthomonas campestris pv vitians and may have been confused with other bacterial diseases of lettuce such as soft rot. These diseases are significant because the leaves they attack are the commercial parts of cabbage and lettuce. Any destruction they cause reduces the income from the crop. These diseases are also soil borne and difficult to eradicate. The disease management often entails additional expense, driving up the cost of production and consequently the price of the product. Information from Nagpala’s survey will be used to guide the development of integrated and sustainable management measures. The project titled, “Survey, Identification and Mapping of Soil borne Plant Pathogens and Pathogen Vectors and Alternative Host Weeds in Benguet” being conducted under the Semi-Temperate Vegetable Research and Development Center (STVRDC) of the Benguet State University is funded under the Philippines Inter-University Cooperation (PIUC) Program by the Belgian government. # via Nordis Post your comments, reactions to this article
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