Disease Note

Leaf Spot Disease of Ficus benjamina Caused by Corynespora cassiicola. A. R. Chase, Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida Agricultural Research Center, Apopka 32703. Plant Dis. 68:251, 1984. Accepted for publication 2 December 1983. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-251a.

Several cultivars of weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) with severe leaf spot were found in central Florida.  Lesions were generally 1–10 mm wide and tan to reddish brown with irregular borders; leaf abscission was common.  Isolations from diseased tissue yielded Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & Curt.) Wei.  Isolates from weeping fig, lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus pulcher (Blume) G. Don), and zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) were used to inoculate weeping fig (two variegated cultivars and one green), rubber plant (F. elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.), creeping fig (F. pumila L.), lipstick vine, and zebra plant.  Lesions formed on all inoculated plants except creeping fig.  Lesions were typical of the original symptoms on each host.  Rubber plants had pinpoint sunken lesions.  No host specificity was apparent.  The pathogen was reisolated from lesions but not from asymptomatic control plants.

References: Chase, A. R. Plant Dis. 66:739, 1982.  McRitchie, J. J., and Miller, J. W. Proc. Fla. State Hortic. Soc. 86:389, 1973.