BROWN SPOT CAUSED BY CURVULARIA SPP., A NEW DISEASE OF ASPARAGUS

The distribution, aetiology and symptomatology of a new disease on asparagus ferns, which we have termed brown  spot,  is  described.  Descriptions  of  and  a  key  to  identification  of  the  causal  organisms,  Curvularia brachyspora, C. eragrostidis, C. lunata and C. pallescens, are also presented. Pathogenicity tests showed that C. lunata was the dominant and most virulent of the four species. Inoculation with conidial suspensions or mycelial transfers through wounded ferns were more effective in inducing the disease than inoculations on unwounded ferns. This is the first record of C. brachyspora in Malaysia and the first report of this disease on asparagus .Key words:  Malaysia/Plant diseases/Brown spotJCurvularia brachyspora/Curvularia eragrostidts/Curvularia lunata/Curvularia pallescens/Asparagus.