Diseases of Taro and Malanga

Taro and malanga are important staple crops in many developing countries. The corms are usually the edible parts of these plants; however, the leaves are also consumed in certain regions. Important issues related to the main pathogen groups (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, oomycetes, and viruses), which have been associated with yield losses of these crops, are covered in this chapter. The geographic distribution of pathogens is discussed, as well as their impact on crop production, the symptoms they cause on their hosts, and their biology and epidemiology. There is no single measure that can handle the pathogens causing diseases on taro and malanga. Therefore, the importance of using integrated management strategies to mitigate the damages caused by these pathogens in taro and malanga production is emphasized. Secondary pathogens are not the main subject of this chapter, but they are mentioned at the appropriate time and when information on them is available in the rather scarce literature.