FUNGI
Acremonium zonatum (Sawada) W. Gams
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No – Pathogen reported causing leaf spot on taro in Samoa (Dingley et al. 1981). Unlikely to be present on fresh corms.
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Galbraith 1987).
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No
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Allomyces arbusculus Butler
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No – Recorded as associated with taro in Hawaii by Raabe et al. (1981). Saprophytic on plant and animal debris, but unlikely to be on fresh corms (Ecoport 2011).
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No record found.
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No
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Apiospora montagnei Saccardo,
[Syn.: Tubercularia apiospora Durieu & Montagne]
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Yes – Not a primary plant pathogen, but known to be a secondary invader or saprophyte, so may arrive with poorly cleaned or damaged corms (Kirk 1991).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Frohlich et al. 1997).
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No
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Armillaria mellea (Vahl: Fr.) P. Kumm.
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No – Reported causing secondary infection of Colocasia antiquorum in Ghana (Farr and Rossman 2011). While Armillaria mellea is known as a root pathogen, it is typically associated with hardwood trees and conifer hosts, as well as decaying wood. Unlikely to be on fresh corms.
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No. Older Australian records (e.g. Simmonds 1966) are likely to be misidentifications.
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No
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Aspergillus aculeatus Iizuka
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Yes – Soilborne fungus often associated with decaying plant material. Reported on taro in the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, Qld and SA (Leong 2005).
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No
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Aspergillus niger Tieghem
Collar rot
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Yes – Aspergillus niger infection results in storage rots in corms of Colocasia spp. (Ugwuanyi and Obeta 1996).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (Leong 2005).
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No
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Aspergillus restrictus G.Sm
Fruit rot
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Yes – Storage mould of grains, but also likely to affect taro corms stored in damp conditions.
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Upsher and Upsher 1995) and Vic. (APPD 2009).
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No
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Athelia rolfsii Curzi (see Sclerotium rolfsii)
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Botrytis cinerea Pers. : Fr.
Grey mould
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Yes – The fungus attacks all parts of the plant, and is particularly a problem in postharvest storage (CABI 2011).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halsted
Ceratocystis blight
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Yes – Reported causing taro corm rot in Fiji and Samoa (Dingley et al. 1981).
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Yes. Recorded in SA (Cook and Dube 1989) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) C. Moreau sens. lat.
Black rot
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Yes – Reported causing taro corm rot in Samoa (Dingley et al. 1981).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Magee and McCleery 1937) and Qld (Simmonds 1966).
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No
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Cercospora colocasiae (Höhnel) Chupp - see Passalora colocasiae
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Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berkeley & Ravenel) Thaxt.
Choanephora fruit rot
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No – Only affects the taro leaves. In severe cases the petioles may also be affected causing the leaf to collapse as a rotten pulpy mass. Often a secondary pathogen following infection by Phytophthora colocasiae (Sinha 1940). Spores may be present in the soil.
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Yes. Present in NT (O’Gara 1998).
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No
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Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresenius) G.A. de Vries
(see Mycosphaerella tassiana)
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Cladosporium colocasiae Sawada
Ghost spot
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Yes – Mainly affects the leaves, which can become severly diseased, but also spreads to the petioles (Awuah 1995).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW and Qld (APPD 2009).
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No
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Cladosporium colocasiicola Sawada
Leaf blight
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No – Recorded as associated with taro in American Samoa (Brooks 2006). It is a leaf pathogen, causing brown circular lesions (Sawada 1959).
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No record found.
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No
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Cladosporium oxysporum Berkeley & M.A. Curtis
Seed rot
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No – Pathogen associated with the taro foliage, but may be present in the soil as a saprobe.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW and Qld (Willingham et al. 2002).
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No
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Cochliobolus geniculatus R.R. Nelson
Seedling blight
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No – More saprophytic than parasitic, typically occurring on senescing, heat stressed leaves (Sivanesan and Holliday 1998).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Hyde and Alcorn 1993) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Cochliobolus lunatus R.R.Nelson & Haasis
[Syn.: Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn 1933]
Head mould
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No – Predominantly a pathogen of foliage and floral structures, but can survive in the soil in crop residues (CABI 2011). Reported on taro in New Caledonia (Ecoport 2011).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Hyde and Alcorn 1993) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) E.J. Butler & Bisby
Leaf spot
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No – Leaf pathogen affecting the aerial parts of host plants (CABI 2011). Reported on taro in the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc.
Root rot
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Yes – A common saprobe and opportunistic invader of dead or damaged plant material (CABI 2011). May be present on damaged or poorly washed corms.
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Hyde and Alcorn 1993; Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Corallomycetella repens (Berkeley & Broome) Rossman & Samuels
[Syn.: Sphaerostilbe repens Berkeley & Broome, Nectria mauritiicola (Hennings) Seifert & Samuels]
Anamorph: Rhizostilbella hibisci (Patouillard) Seifert.
Violet root rot
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Yes – Reported on taro in French Polynesia (Hammes et al. 1989) and the Malay Peninsula (Thompson and Johnston 1953) and is likely to infect the corms.
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Reported as a possible mycorrhizal symbiont of an introduced orchid in southern Western Australia (Bonnardeaux et al. 2007).
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Yes – The fungus is primarily saprophytic, but under anaerobic waterlogged conditions can attack root tissues.
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Yes – A minor pest of taro, but more serious on tree crops such as rubber, citrus, coffee, mango etc. grown in waterlogged conditions.
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Yes
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Curvularia fallax Boedijn
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No – Causes disease of inflorescences and foliage, but can survive in soil (CABI 2011). Reported on taro in the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Hyde and Alcorn 1993).
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No
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Curvularia pallescens Boedijn 1933
[Syn.: Curvularia leonensis M.B. Ellis]
Leaf spot
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No – Mainly a leaf pathogen, but can cause rots in other tissues (Farr and Rossman 2011).
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Yes. Recorded in WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Curvularia senegalensis (Spegazzini) Subram.
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Yes – Associated with corm rot of taro (Ecoport 2011). Reported on taro in the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld and Vic. (Upsher and Upsher 1995).
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No
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Epicoccum sorghi (Sacc.) Aveskamp, Gruyter & Verkley
[Syn.: Phoma sorghina (Sacc.) Boerema, Dorenb. & Kesteren]
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Yes – An opportunistic soilborne pathogen that may be present on damaged or poorly washed corms.
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Yes. Recorded in SA (Cook and Dube 1989) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Exserohilum rostratum (Drechsler) K.J. Leonard & Suggs
[Syn.: Drechslera rostrata (Drechsler) M.J. Richardson & E.M. Fraser]
Leaf spot
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No – Leaf pathogen causing leaf spots, blight and rots (Forsberg 1985).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Forsberg 1985; Hyde and Alcorn 1993) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Fusarium chlamydosporum Wollenw. & Reinking
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Yes – Saprophytic soilborne fungus that may be present on damaged or poorly washed corms.
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Yes. Recorded in WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Fusarium lichenicola C. Massal.
[Syn.: Cylindrocarpon lichenicola (C. Massal.) D. Hawksw.]
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Yes – Saprophytic soilborne fungus that may be present on damaged or poorly washed corms.
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Yes. Present in Australia (Brayford 1987).
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No
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Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtendal.
Basal rot
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Yes – Fusarium oxysporum infection results in storage rots in corms of Colocasia spp. (Ugwuanyi and Obeta 1996).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Saccardo.
Fungal gummosis
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Yes. Recorded in SA (Cook and Dube 1989) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Fusarium roseum Link
(see Gibberella zeae (Schweinitz) Petch)
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Fusarium solani (Mart.) Saccardo
(see Nectria haematococca)
Dry rot
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Geotrichum candidum Link
Sour rot
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Yes – Geotrichum candidum infection results in storage rots in corms of Colocasia spp. (Ugwuanyi and Obeta 1996).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Gibberella intricans Wollenweber
Damping-off
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Simmonds 1966), and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Gibberella zeae (Schweinitz) Petch
[Syn.: Fusarium roseum Link]
Blight
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Vic. (Cunnington 2003) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Glomerella cingulata (Stoneman) Spaulding & H. Schrenk
Anthracnose
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966; Hyde and Alcorn 1993), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982), Vic. (Cunnington 2003) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Khuskia oryziae Huds.
[Syn.: Nigrospora oryzae (Berkeley & Broome) Petch]
Cob rot
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), SA (Cook and Dube 1989) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Patouillard) Griffiths & Maublanc
[Syn.: Botryodiplodia theobromae Patouillard]
Diplodia pod rot
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Yes – Reported causing rot of taro corms in Samoa (Dingley et al. 1981). Infection results in postharvest rot of corms (Carmichael et al. 2008).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Leptosphaerulina trifolii (Rostovzev) Petrak
White spot of taro
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No – Causes spotting on taro leaves that may result in shothole symptoms (Carmichael et al. 2008). Unlikely to be present on fresh corms.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Marasmiellus colocasiae Capelari & Antonín
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Yes – Isolated from infected corms in Brazil (Capelari et al. 2010).
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No record found.
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Little is known about this recently described species, so the potential for establishment and spread in Australia is unknown. However, given that related species and host plants are present in Australia, it is assumed there is some potential for establishment and spread.
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Yes – Losses in crop production up to 100 percent in a 2 hectare plot in Brazil were attributed to this fungus (Capelari et al. 2010)
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Yes
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Marasmiellus stenophyllus (Montagne) Singer
Corm and leaf rot
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Yes – This pathogen infects taro at the base of the plant, affecting corms and roots. Mycelium grows over the corm (Carmichael et al. 2008).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Simmonds 1966).
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No
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Mycosphaerella alocasiae Sydow & Paul Sydow
Anamorph: Passalora colocasiae, q.v
Small round leaf spot
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No – Common on giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza), but rare on taro and reports may be the result of host misidentification. Only oldest leaves are affected and damage is minor (Ecoport 2011). Removal of leaves at harvest should eliminate this pathogen from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Mycosphaerella tassiana (De Notaris) Johanson
[Syn.: Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresenius) G.A. de Vries]
Rot
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Myrothecium roridum Tode
Blight
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Yes – Typically a saprophyte. Sporodochia form on the underground parts of some plant hosts, particularly following damage caused by nematodes (Brooks 1945). Reported on taro in the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Shivas and Alcorn 1996) and SA (Cook and Dube 1989).
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No
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Nectria haematococca Berkeley & Broome
Dry rot
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Yes – Has been reported on taro in French Polynesia (Hammes et al. 1989), Papua New Guinea (Muthappa 1987) and the Solomon Islands (McKenzie and Jackson 1986).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Neojohnstonia colocasiae (M.B. Ellis) B. Sutton
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No – Causes a leaf spot disease of older leaves (Carmichael et al. 2008). Removal of leaves during harvesting should eliminate this pathogen from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Nigrospora sphaerica (Saccardo) E.W. Mason
(see Khuskia oryziae)
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Passalora colocasiae (Höhnel) U.Braun
Teleomorph: Mycosphaerella alocasiae, q.v.
[Syn.: Cercospora colocasiae (Höhnel) Chupp;]
Taro leaf spot
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No – See also Mycosphaerella alocasiae (teleomorph). Rare on older leaves, but removal of leaves at harvest should eliminate this pathogen from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Phyllosticta colocasiae Höhnel
Teleomorph: Asteromella spermatial state of Mycosphaerella alocasia H & P Sydow (van der Aa & Vanev 2002)
Synonym: Cercospora colocasiae (Höhnel) Chupp
Shot hole
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No – Affects older taro leaves, causing a brown leaf spot, but does not cause significant damage (Hunter and Shafia 2000). Removal of leaves during harvest should remove Phyllosticta colocasiae from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Phyllosticta colocasiicola Höhnel
Leaf spot
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No – Affects older taro leaves, causing a reddish-brown leaf spot, but does not cause significant damage (Hunter and Shafia 2000). Removal of leaves during harvest should remove Phyllosticta colocasiicola from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Phyllosticta colocasiophila Weedon
Phyllosticta leaf spot
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Yes. Recorded on taro in Qld, but considered a minor disease of low importance (Midmore et al. 2005).
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No
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Pithomyces chartarum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) M.B. Ellis
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Yes – Saprophytic soilborne fungus that may be present on damaged or poorly washed corms.
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Yes. Recoded in Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and Vic. (Janes 1962).
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No
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Pseudocercospora colocasiae Deighton
Leaf blotch
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No – Causes a leaf spot disease of older leaves, but has very little economic impact (Carmichael et al. 2008). Removal of leaves during harvesting should eliminate this pathogen from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Rhizopus stolonifer Saccardo
Rhizopus rot
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Rosellinia pepo Patouillard
Anamorph: Dematophora sp.
Black root rot
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Yes – Taro is a minor host of this fungus, and the roots, corms and stem base may be infected. However, the roots and stem base are quickly surrounded by a mat of dark hyphae, and external mycelium is visible to the naked eye (CABI 2011). It is likely that most infected taro corms would be removed from the pathway during harvesting or pre-export processing.
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No record found.
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Yes – Rosellinia pepo is plurivorous and many woody and sub-woody crops have been affected throughout its range (Oliviera et al. 2008).
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Yes – Economic losses to coffee and cocoa have been reported (Oliviera et al. 2008).
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Yes
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Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo
Teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough
[Syn.: Pellicularia rolfsii Curzi & West]
Sclerotium rot
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Yes – Soilborne pathogen that can infect roots and corms, particularly if plant tissues have been attacked by nematodes or arthropod pests (CABI 2011).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), NT, Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Thanatephorus cucumeris (A.B. Frank) Donk
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Yes – Soil pathogen that may be present on roots and corms (CABI 2011).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995), Qld (Simmonds 1966), SA (Cook and Dube 1989), Tas. (Sampson and Walker 1982) and WA (Shivas 1989).
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No
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Trichoderma harzianum Rifai
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Letham 1995; Wong et al. 2002).
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No
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Trichoderma koningii Oudemans
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Yes. Recorded in NSW (Wong et al. 2002).
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No
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