[4] Symptoms begin to show on the underside of older, lower leaves first due to the proximity to the soil.

Conidia of Cercospora melongenae typically have a truncate base with a somewhat thickened convex scar and a sub-acute apex.

It survives the winter on lesions of previously infected fruit, plant debris, or simply in the soil.

[1] The mycelium protects the next generation of conidia and ensures survival through the winter via conidiophores, and the cycle starts again the next season.

The conidia must have water or moisture in the form of heavy dew in order to germinate and therefore penetrate the leaf via.

[6] Fungi in the genus Cercospora produce the plant toxin cercosporin, which causes the leaf spot appearance.

Cercosporin is a photosensitizing perylenequinone plant toxin that absorbs light energy and converts it into a highly activated state.

The fungal spores are not harmed by the production of this toxin because they produce pyridoxine which neutralizes the reaction.

Cercospora melongenae enters through breaks in the plant surface on the young leaf host of eggplants, typically through lesions caused by the fungi.

[7] The fungus favors wet or moist leaves and high relative humidity for optimal infection.

[8] A conducive environment for this fungus is one that is moist and wet, with a fair amount of wind and rain splash for optimal dispersal.

Because Cercospora melongenae is a polycyclic disease and heavily dependent on a moist or wet environment, an extremely heavy rainy season is conducive for larger and greater conidia production and dispersal.

This disease may live in plant debris or soil for at least one year, so burning, or throwing away any infected matter is very important.

[1] Neem oil, Octanoic acid and copper salt solutions, and various concentrations of Chlorothalonil are all recommended fungicides, as well.

While listed as a minor Eggplant Disease in the Philippine Journal of Agriculture, it is an easily avoidable one with proper care and management.