For many years, farmers have battled leaf spot diseases caused by fungi in the genus Cercospora. And for almost as many years, plant pathologists have studied the diseases, searching for fungicides, growing practices and other ways to limit their negative effects on crops.
There are many species of Cercospora. Researchers have long struggled to distinguish one species from the next, however, which complicates efforts to learn about disease behavior and identify possible solutions.
Modern technology is shedding new light on these species, pointing toward connections that scientists didn’t always realize existed. But where exactly are those overlaps? And how can that information be leveraged to develop better control methods for farmers?
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