First Report Of Leaf Blight (Cladosporium Tenuissimum Cooke) On Swertia Chirayita –A Critically Endangered Medicinal Plant Of Sub- Himalayan Zone

A new disease in Chirata (Swertia chirayita) characterized by circular or irregular reddish brown leaf spots that become tan to brown with age, pale greenish-yellow spots on the upper leaf surface that correspond with the spots on the lower leaf surface, and coalesced lesions that form larger necrotic areas. Based on cultural characters the pathogen was identified as Cladosporium tenuissimum. Upon conducting pathogenicity tests, the fungus was reisolated from the inoculated leaves. This is thought to be the first report of the leaf blight disease affecting both cultivated and non-cultivated chirata in India.