The herbaceous Asteraceae known by the name jambu and other common names is native to the Amazon region has been used and cultivated for culinary, medicinal, insecticidal and ornamental purposes. It is also used as spice for local food in Belém city, Pará State. The medicinal value of this plant has been known and it has been studied in cultivated plants in Botucatu county, São Paulo State. This is the first report of a smut (Tecaphora spilanthes Freire & Vànky) affetcting this plant in the São Paulo State. The smut causes losses and also reduced the quality of the plants.
medicinal plant; smut; first report
