Abstract

ARTURO, Martha Carolina; TORRES GONZALEZ, Celina; PENA, Enrique Javier  and  DIAZ, Jaime E. Microorganisms pathogen of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni). Bioagro [online]. 2009, vol.21, n.3, pp.173-178. ISSN 1316-3361.

The impact and severity of diseases caused by microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) that affect the Stevia plant were analyzed in commercial crops located in Golondrinas (Valle del Cauca) and Puerto Tejada (Cauca). The research included the phases of recognition of symptoms, identification of causal agents, and pathogenicity tests. The presence of 22 fungi (several of which constitute new reports) and two bacteria were detected and reported as the cause of fading, root necrosis, leaf spots and necrosis. Puerto Tejada showed the greatest amount of damages in plants compared to those in Golondrinas, where plants had a wider variety of microorganisms. It was established that the different microorganisms have no preferences among leaf, stem, and roots. Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria sp. presented the highest frequency for both locations.

Keywords : Asteraceae; phytopathogens; incidence; severity.