The genus Cinnamomum

192 M. Hasanah et al.
Pests, Diseases
Many diseases and pests of C. verum also attack C. burmannii (Deinum, 1949; Mardinus
et al., 1974). The most serious disease is the stripe canker (cancer) caused by
Phytophthora cinnamomi that often leads to widespread damage to plants (Djafaruddin
and Hanafiah, 1975). Other diseases include pink disease (Corticium salmonicolor syn.
C. javanicum), white rot (Fomes lignosus), rust (Accidium cinnamomi) and anthracnose
(Glomerella cingulata). A list of diseases occurring in Indonesia is given below (see also
Chapter 10).
As a tropical country Indonesia’s climate is conducive to the development of many
pathogens. Usually, cinnamon grows in the wet climate with a relative humidity of
80–95%, which predisposes the plant to many pathogens. However, data on yield loss
caused by pathogens in Indonesia is still very limited.
Diseases commonly found on cinnamon plants in Indonesia are summarised below.
Red rust (Cephaleuros sp.)
Symptoms: Greyish orange or brownish orange spots on the upper leaf surface. On top
of the spots can be seen the spores or conidia. On the lower leaf surface the spots appear
brown.
Black rust (Puccinia cinnamomi)
Symptoms: Wet greyish brown irregular spots on the lower leaf surface. The spores of
the fungi are clearly seen.
Grey leaf spots (Pestalotia cinnamomi)
Symptoms: Grey necrotic spots on the leaves. The spots enlarge between the leaf ribs.
Sometimes the fungus also infects the twigs near the petiole.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.)
Symptoms: Blackish brown leaf spots, especially on the young leaves. In the more
severe infection the old leaves and twigs are also attacked. Young leaves role up and
become black. It can cause dieback and plant death.
Swollen and rotten leaf disease (Aecidium cinnamomi)
Symptoms: Lower leaf surface is swollen like blister blight, and becomes greyish to
brownish grey. Tissues rot and show white to black spots. The leaves become concave
and convex. The blister blight form is irregular; sometimes in one leaf there are lot of
blisters and sometimes only one or two.
Pink disease (Cortitium salmonicolor)
Symptoms: The parts of the plant attacked are twigs, branches and stem. The affected
twigs and branches appear pink due to mycelial growth on the upper and lower part of