Phytophthora Leaf Blight of Colocasia esculenta in the British Solomon Islands.

Abstract

Leaf blight of Colocasia esculenta ( L.) Schott, caused by Phytophthora colocasiae Rae. is the most widespread disease of dryland taro ,on the larger volcanic islands of the British Solomon Islands. None of the 181 local cultivars tested proved to be immune or highly resistant to the disease. A small proportion of cultivars however, failed to develop high levels of disease. The application ,of copper fungicides as foliar sprays, although giving poor control of the disease, resulted in yield increases of up to 25 per cent compared with unsprayed controls.