Leaf Spot Diseases of Weeds from Marathwada region (M.S) India.

A survey of leaf spot diseases occurring on weed species was conducted during 2022–2024 in Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts of the Marathwada region. Frequent field visits were carried out during monsoon seasons to forests, agricultural fields and roadside habitats. Several weeds were found to be infected by leaf spot diseases. Among these, leaf spot diseases caused by fungal pathogens were examined. due to their role as alternate hosts affecting crop and natural vegetation. Nine weed species Ageratum conyzoides, Alternanthera sessilis, Barleria prionitis, Caesulia axillaris, Datura stramonium, Hyptis suaveolens, Sonchus oleraceus, Tecoma stans and Tephrosia purpurea were found to be infected. During the field work, two hosts Hyptis suaveolens and Tecoma stan showed first records of infection by Cercospora spp. in Maharashtra.