- classification : Fungi, Ascomycota, Dothideomycetes, Dothideomycetidae, Capnodiales, Mycosphaerellaceae
- téléomorphe : Mycosphaerella
- synonymies, Cladosporium fulvum Cooke (1878)
                            Fulvia fulva (Cooke) Cif., (1954)
                            Mycovellosiella fulva (Cooke) Arx, (1983)
- English name: leaf mold


Pasalora fulva very specific tomato is globally widespread , particularly in wet production areas. It mainly affects crops under cover, particularly poorly ventilated (in soil, as above ground), but also field crops in humid and hot areas. Its damage can be considerable in shelters, especially if susceptible varieties are grown there. The destruction of part of the foliage caused by its epidemics can be the cause of not insignificant drops in yield.

It is present in France and mainly affects crops under cover . The use of resistant varieties makes its damage much less feared than in the past.


Passalora fulva (commonly known as Mycovellosiella fulva and Fulvia fulva ) was described in 1883 by Cooke. Rather known in the field as " Cladosporium ", it seems to have great affinities for tomatoes, and especially for its leaflets. Its sexual form (telomorph) would never have been observed.


The interaction between this fungus and the tomato, governed by gene-for-gene relationships, has been studied for many years and currently constitutes a biological model particularly valued in plant pathology. The breeding of tomato varieties resistant to leaf blight has been very active in recent decades, but has suffered many setbacks following the emergence of virulent strains capable of bypassing genes specific resistance (" Cf ") introduced in some cultivars. Several races are currently present in the field, revealing different virulence profiles.

Note that another Cladosporium , C. oxysporum Berk. & MA Curtis, (1868) [1869] has been described in a greenhouse in New York State. It is believed to be responsible for irregular, angular, dark brown lesions on older tomato leaves. Variable in size (1 to 5 mm), the spots would be surrounded by a yellow halo. Unlike P. fulva, C. oxysporum appears to sporulate on the upper surface of the leaf blade in the center of the lesions. Note that this fungus is also known in India to cause rots on fruits after harvest. It is also responsible for leaf spots on peppers.