OCCURRENCE AND CONTROL OF CHERIMOYA RUST IN SÃO PAULO STATE

ABSTRACT

Leaves and fruit samples collected in Pedra Bela, São Paulo State, Brazil, in March of 2002 showing rust disease symptoms were taken for microscopic analysis, which showed the uredinial state (ii), whose urediniosores character indicated that it was the rust Phakopsora neocherimoliae. This rust attacks the leaves causing early defoliation. With the aim of finding chemical control procedures to reduce the damage of this disease in commercial crops a field experimental test was carried out using five different fungicides as follows: mancozeb - 20 g, cupric chloride - 25 g, tebuconazol - 5 mL, difenoconazol - 20 mL and methyl thiophanato - 10 mL in the applied doses. The five fungicides used were efficient to control the disease. This is the first report of cherimoya rust caused by Phakopsora neocherimoliae in Brazil.

KEY WORDS:
Rust; Phakopsora neocherimoliae ; Annona cherimolia