Alternaria Leaf Spot Disease as a Key Constraint to Kale Production: A Review on Prospects for its Sustainable Management

Kale is a green leafy vegetable that is rapidly gaining popularity in the entire world due to its nutritional richness. Its higher concentration of antioxidants and other health-benefiting compounds coupled with its industrial use, which has significantly increased in recent decades, compared to other vegetables, are some potential factors that have made many people interested in consuming it. Global kale production is reported to be globally hampered by Alternaria Leaf Spot diseases as one of the major biotic factors. This disease is not new but it has become more severe and worse in kale in recent years. This paper gives insights into the importance of kale, kale production requirements, biotic and abiotic constraints to kale production, Alternaria leaf disease, practices that contribute to increased disease severity, current ALS management and prospects for sustainable disease management approaches such as the utilization of biological, botanical and cultural and integrated management approaches.

Kale consumption provides the body with good quantities of vitamins C and K, fibre, antioxidants, iron, and many other important minerals besides improving the economy at country and individual farmer’s level.

Alternaria Leaf Spot (ALS) disease in kale significantly reduces the yield quality and quantity.

ALS management by use of synthetic fungicides compromises both human and environmental health.

The use of sustainable ALS management approaches can minimize the qualitative and quantitative yield losses caused by the disease.