First report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl causing root rot and collar rot disease of Jatropha curcas L. in Benin

Abstract

Objective: Jatropha curcas L. is an important biofuel crop grown worldwide. In Benin, however, the plant is attacked by rot diseases resulting in rotting, wilting, yellowing, dropping of leaves, blackening, decaying of affected areas and later death of the plant. The objective of the current study was to identify the causal agents of the disease.
Methodology and results: Diseased samples were collected from field, surface sterilized and plated on PDA medium. Pure cultures were observed on plate and under microscope. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was consistently isolated from diseased plants collected from the field. Inoculation of L. theobromae to 1-yearold jatropha plants resulted in typical symptoms of the disease, confirming the fungus pathogenicity on Jatropha.
Conclusion and application of results: As conclusion, of L. theobromae is the causal agent of the disease and this is the first report of L. theobromae causing rot diseases on J. curcas in the Republic of Benin. Identification of the pathogen of the disease is of paramount importance and the direct application is that this causal agent identification will be taken into account for adequate control programme of the disease in Benin.