Foliar blight in Centrosema pubescens (Benth.) in southwestern Nigeria

The etiology and epidemiology of leaf blight of centro (Centrosema pubescens Benth.) was investigated at Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, in the lowland humid tropics. Rhizoctonia solani was associated with the leaf blight of centro. The pathogen was harboured by Rottboellia cochinchiensis, a weed growing within and outside the centro plot. A high inoculum population of 4.0 ± 0.3 × 106 colony forming units/g soil was estimated in the soil. The seed of centro were free of R. solani. Field infection of the disease occurs during the peak of the rainy season beginning in patches which later spread, causing extensive defoliation of the sward. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.