Peanut leaf spot caused by Nothopassalora personata

Abstract

Nothopassalora personata is a cosmopolitan plant pathogenic fungus that causes late leaf spot (LLS) of peanut, the main foliar diseases of this crop. The disease emerged during the last decade in the USA and Argentina. Severely affected plants are early defoliated and yield is decreased by 40–50%. During the last decades, effective LLS management worldwide has been achieved using chemical fungicides, which may negatively affect human and animal health as well as the natural stasis of the soil native microbiota. This review provides an updated view of the new research conducted to understand and effectively manage the disease, based mainly on host plant resistance judicious use of fungicides together with other cultural practices such as crop rotation. Breeding for resistance remains challenging, but new SNPs markers for leaf spot diseases have been mapped and may be useful for improving host resistance which can reduce reliance on fungicides, especially after the ban of chlorothalonil in the E.U. Biocontrol using bacterial and fungal agents open new possibilities to reduce the use of chemical fungicides.