Background:

Smallpox or “negrilla” is a disease present in the leaves of Agave spp., manifesting itself with black leaf spots similar to soot. It has been reported that the damage is caused by Asterina mexicana, however, it is unknown if it is the only fungus that causes this disease.

Objective:

To identify, by microbiological and molecular methods, phytopathogenic fungi that cause smallpox or bold in Agave salmiana plants from different municipalities of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico.

Methods:

Microbiological and molecular methods were used to identify fungi that cause smallpox or “negrilla” in Agave salmiana plants.

Results and conclusions:

Within the analysis, the strains that were isolated from the lesions of smallpox or bold in A. salmiana leaves showed macroscopic and microscopic characteristics corresponding to the genus Curvularia and the molecular identification confirmed the presence of Curvularia lunata. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that the smallpox or bold disease present in A. salmiana cannot necessarily be caused by A. mexicana, being the first report where C. lunata is isolated from an atypical host such as agave.

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