Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig 2.25 Rhizopus spores and mycelium on a young jackfruit.
conditions favour infection and the development of
disease. Spore germination can occur in condensate
formed on fruit after removal from cool rooms. Once
established, Rhizopus can spread rapidly from fruit to
fruit resulting in extensive 'nests' of diseased fruit.
Fig 2.23 Grape and packaged strawberry fruit displaying symptoms
of transit rot.
Management
•
Maintain strict hygiene in the orchard and packing shed.
Remove rejected fruit before it becomes a source of
inoculum.
Handle fruit carefully to minimise damage. Apply
recommended postharvest fungicide treatments.
•
Cool fruit as soon as possible after harvest and store at
correct temperatures. Cool storage slows the
development of transit rot.
•
Do not use packing materials of organic origin (e.g.
wood wool) because these can harbour the fungus.
•
Further information
Snowden AL (1990)
A colour atlas of postharvest diseases
and disorders of fruits and vegetables: Volume 1 General
introduction and fruits
. Wolfe Scientific: London.
Fig 2.24
Rhizopus stolonifer
: fungal structures and mycelium.
