Cercospora act as pathogens on a variety of plants including corn, tobacco, soybean, and coffee.

[1] Cercosporin is a perylenequinone natural product[2][3] that is photoactivated and uses reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage cell components (membranes, proteins, lipids, etc.).

[5] Cercosporin is biosynthesized via polyketide synthases, and there are several genes that have been found responsible in the creation of the natural product.

[4] To combat the onset of disease caused by Cercospora fungi, it has been proven that growing plants in lower light intensities can reduce the amount and severity of lesions caused by cercosporin.

[1][8] Some plant species use chitinases as a general defense mechanism to stop fungal infections.