A survey was carried out to determine the occurrence of soft-rot of yam in different states of Brazil. Fungus isolates were taken from diseased tubers of two edible yam species, Dioscorea cayennensis and D. alata. Observations were carried out to identify the 50 isolates of Penicillium obtained using specific techniques for the genus Penicillium taxonomy and routine laboratory techniques of plant pathology. It was concluded that the disease occurred in all surveyed states and Penicillium sclerotigenum was the only Penicillium species in constant association with the disease. The pathogen isolates presented high colony variation, independently of the yam species and collecting place.
Green-rot of yams; Dioscorea cayennensis; Dioscorea alata; yams diseases
