Diversity of cassava-infecting diseases in district of Ponjong, regency of Gunungkidul, special region of Yogyakarta

The regency of Gunungkidul is the largest cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) production centers in Special Region of Yogyakarta. However, proper reference about cassava diseases was insuficiently available, thus local farmers were unable to distinguish disease symptoms found in the field. This study was aimed to identify various cassava-infecting diseases found in District of Ponjong, Regency of Gunungkidul. Disease survey was conducted using purposive sampling method at 4 months-aged plant. A survey was performed in three villages (Karangasem, Kenteng and Bedoyo) and each village was represented by three field plots. Disease incidence and severity were evaluated every two weeks. Data were analyzed statistically using a one-way analysis of variance and the difference between survey locations was assessed using DNMRT with a p<0.05. The highest disease incidence was recorded in Bedoyo village. Results showed the presence of six diseases infecting cassava in District of Ponjong in different level of incidence. Of those six diseases, three diseases were found in all locations with a high incidence up to 100%, namely brown leaf spot, diffuse leaf spot and antrachnose. These data were potential to be a reference in developing a proper disease control strategy to minimize the cassava-infecting diseases in District of Ponjong.