Etiology, Symptomatology and Management of Black Spot of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) through Botanicals and Biocontrol Agents – A Brief Review

Aloe vera is an important medicinal plant of Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family. It is widely used owing to its wound healing, anti-inflammatory, immunity, antidiabetic, antioxidant, laxative, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Similar to other crop plants, Aloe vera is infected by several plant pathogens that deteriorate its yield and quality. Among various fungal diseases, black spot disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. is the most serious disease which not only reduces the crop yield and market value but also the antioxidant properties and other medicinal efficacy of the plant. C. gloeosporioides is commonly controlled by chemical fungicides but due to the limitations of applying chemical control methods on medicinal plants, there is a need to look for some safe alternatives. The objective of this paper is to review the previous work on etiology, symptomatology and management of C. gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. through botanicals (natural plant extracts), biocontrol agents and some safe and ecofriendly chemicals like Azoxystrobin.