Cercospora rodmanii, a new pathogen of water hyacinth with biological control potential

Abstract

A species of Cercospora was isolated from declining water hyacinths in the Rodman Reservoir in Florida. Differences between this isolate and a previously reported C. piaropi from water hyacinths and other morphologically similar species of Cercospora from other hosts warranted the establishment of a new species, C. rodmanii. Field evaluations of C. rodmanii indicate that it has biological-control potential for water hyacinth.