Mycosphaerella berkeleyi. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Mycosphaerella berkeleyi. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Arachis hypogaea. DISEASE: Late leaf spot of groundnut; also called tikka with Mycosphaerella arachidis (CMI Descript. 411). The circular lesions, up to c. 8 mm diam., become very dark brown or black with the chlorotic halos on the upper surface being less distinct and developing later than those of M. arachidis. Mycosphaerella herkeleyi symptoms are most clearly identified by the distinct dark stroma of the conidial state which develops on the undersurface of the leaf; M. arachidis forms conidia on both surfaces and has no such stroma. Severe attacks cause defoliation (13, 74; 17, 651; 35, 342). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread with host (CMI Map 152, ed. 3, 1967). TRANSMISSION: In India the air dispersed conidia showed a diurnal periodicity with a peak at 1000 h (50, 1524). Carry over occurs in host debris (41, 76) and seed transmission seems unimportant.