206CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT DISEASE IN CENTELLA ASIATICA AND ITS EFFECT ON PHARMACEUTICAL COMPONENTSCentella asiatica is an important medicinal herb. Studies were conducted to determine the casual organism of leaf spot disease in Centella asiatica in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary during 2006-09. The foliar disease incidence and severity and distribution pattern of disease in eight forest regions of the sanctuary were determined. The effect of foliar infection on secondary metabolite content was also determined. The present study indicated that Cercospora centellae is the major leaf spot disease causing pathogen in the study regions of the sanctuary. The foliar disease incidence and severity was high in Madla forest region during September-October. The disease is homogeneously distributed in the study area. The secondary metabolites- alkaloids and steroids in diseased foliages decreased with increase in foliar infection due to C. centellae, while phenols and flavonoids increased. The study suggested that foliar infection of C. asiatica by C. centellae caused significant decrease in therapeutically important alkaloids and steroids.mbshivanna@yahoo.co.ukResearch412013Centella asiatica,Cercospora centellae,disease severity,alkaloids,steroidsThaygarthi Ramappa Parashurama,Parinitha Mahishi,G Eswarappa Mallikarjunaswamy,Shivanna Manchanahally ByrappaDepartment of studies in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India.,Department of studies in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India.,Department of studies in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India.,Department of studies in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India.