Taro Leaf Blight (Phytophthora colocasiae) is a highly infectious plant disease that is characterized by the formation of large brown lesions on the leaves of infected taro plants.Nelson, S., Brooks, F., and Teves, G. July 2011. Taro leaf blight in Hawaii. College of tropical agricultural and human resources. Lesions are the result of oomycetes leaching nutrients out of the leaves via haustoria to create white powdery rings of sporangia.Singh, D., Jackson, G., Hunter, D., Fullerton, R., Lebot, V., Taylor, M., Iosefa, T., Okpul, T., and Tyson, J. July 2012. Taro leaf blight - a threat to food security. Agriculture. 2, 182 - 203. This pathogen grows best in high humidity and high rainfall environments offering the pathogen means of dispersal via rain splash as well as a warm humid environment that favors hyphal growth across the infected plant.Phytophthora colocasiae. 2013. http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/40955 .CABI. (11/1/14). The Taro Leaf Blight epidemic of Samoa in 1993 is an example of extreme devastation this plant pathogen can cause if preventative measures are not used to control spread and symptoms.Brooks, F. 2005. “Taro Leaf Blight.” http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/Oomycetes/Pages/TaroLeafBlight.aspx American Phytopathological Society Link. (10/27/14).
