General

1. Caused by Cercospora cajani.
2. Cool temperature (25°C) and humid weather favour the disease.
3. Normally appears at flowering and podding.
4. More common in the long-duration and perennial pigeonpeas grown in Eastern Africa.

Symptoms

1. Small circular to irregular necrotic spots or lesions appear on older leaves (Fig.).
2. These lesions coalesce causing leaf blight and defoliation.

Management

1. Select fields away from perennial pigeonpeas affected with the disease which are a source of inoculum.
2. Select seed from healthy crops.
3. Mancozeb 3g per liter of water is effective.