In Nigeria only six pathogens were recorded on sweet potato in 1966. Between 1973 and 1977 about twenty were documented. These cause various foliage, stem, root and tuber diseases. They include diseases caused by Albugo ipomocac, Phaeoisariopsis bataticola, Pseudocercospora timorensis, Phyllosticta batatas, Septoria bataticola, Corticium sp., Elsinoe batatas, Mcliola clavulata, Coleosporium ipomoeae, Puccinia spp., Uromyces sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Plenodomus destruens, Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizopus stolonifera, Monilochaetes infuscans, mosaic virus and internal cork virus. Detailed studies on the nature of the diseases incited under Nigerian conditions have not been carried out on most of the pathogens. However, there are indications that although the foliar diseases may not be of serious economic importance, the stem, root and tuber diseases may be major contributors to post-harvest loss, a common problem in root and tuber production in Nigeria.
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