Louisiana: cercospora showing up in Acadia Parish

Cercospora - a.k.a. narrow brown leaf spot - has been found in 3 Acadia Parish (Louisiana) fields, according to Eddie Eskew, Extension agent in neighboring Jeff Davis Parish.

"Ronnie Levy (Extension agent in Acadia Parish) let us know today that cercospora had been confirmed with samples that were examined by Don Groth (plant pathologist at LSU's Rice Research Station in Crowley)," Eskew said. "He cultured them out and made a positive ID. So, this looks like it may be another problem year for cercospera in some areas."

Frequent showers in south Louisiana this month are stirring concerns about rice disease, he said.

In his parish, rice fungicide applications started 7 to 10 days ago, Eskew added. Treatments were made when the panicle was 2 to 4 inches long inside the boot. "That was the timing indicated by research for cercospora control," he said. "Growers were hurt pretty badly in this area last year, and they wanted to make cercospera and sheath blight treatments a little early. Normally, fungicides don't start until heading, but this earlier approach is what it takes with cercospora."

Click here to download a white paper on cercospera that was prepared by Groth and fellow pathologist Clayton Hollier.