Pomegranate is a commercially growing fruit crop affected by several diseases of which leaf spot is an important disease hindering productivity. The objective of this study was Isolation, identification, cultural and Physiological characteristics of the C. punicae.C. punicae was isolated from typical lesions on leaf by standard tissue culture technique and single spore isolation technique after that, identified as Cercospora punicae by comparing with original descriptions. Pathogenicity was established by proving Koch’s postulates. Cultural studies revealed that among different culture media, highest radial growth (90.00mm)was observed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) followed by oat meal agar (OMA, 89.66 mm),while profuse sporulation was observed on oat meal agar and also found sexual perithecium fruiting bodies of Mycospherella punicae along with ascospores on corn meal agar. The conidia are colourless, straight, needle shape with multiseptate, obclavate. Physiological studies revealed that 25°C was best temperature with pH 6.0 was best for the growth and sporulation of C. punicae. At temperature of 30°C with highest radial growth (79.33 mm) and dry mycelial weight (283.23 mg) was recorded and good sporulation at 25 °C was noticed. Optimum pH for the growth of pathogen is 6.5 to 7.0.

Leaf spot, pomegranate, Cercospora punicae.

This studies revealed that leaf spot of pomegranate plant disease was caused by Cercospora punicae. The pathogen has well grown at temperature of 25°C and oat meal agar (OMA) was the best media for sporulation.

Shilpa, Somasekhara Y.M. Mahesh M. and Ravichandra (2022). Studies on Leaf Spot of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) caused by Cercospora punicae Henn.. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(3): 1571-1576.