Corynespora cassiicola, a pathogen showing a wide range of hosts, has caused severe damage to papaya nurseries in Bahia. The present study evaluated, under mixed environment of coverage and full sun, the natural incidence of C. cassiicola in 49 papaya accessions as randomized blocks with four replicates, 49 treatments and variable number of plants per treatment. The number of symptomatic or dead plants due to C. cassiicola was evaluated at 27 and 32 days after sowing. Cluster Analysis (p< 0.05) classified the accessions into 5 groups according to the average number of infected or dead seedlings. Accessions showing the smallest percentage of infected seedlings were: Sunrise solo 72/12, Sunrise solo, Golden comercial, Grampola, Kapoho solo (red pulp), Mamão roxo and Santa Helena (50A PLT - 09, 14A PLT - 05, 12A PLT- 06, 12A PLT - 07, 02A PLT - 01). A new symptomatology caused by this pathogen is described.
papaya brown spot; Carica papaya L.; damping-off
