Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.4
Continued
Infection
site
Disease cycle and
epidemiology
Disease
Description of casual agent
Fruit symptoms
Control
References
Trichoderma
rot
Trichoderma viride
The fungus is an ubiquitous
soil saprophyte but
grows readily on wood
products
Conidia (3.6-6.8
m
m) are
globose and rough
Spore are yellow to emerald
green
Fruit
injuries
Diseases fruit becomes cocoa
brown and the infected
peel remains leathery and
pliable
Rotted fruits have a coconut
odor
The pathogen cannot
penetrate sound fruit
directly
Spores may be
disseminated with
soil particles
Infection may be
initiated at any
location on the
fruit, but decay
normally start at
the stem-end or
stylar end of the
fruit
A deep wound is
required for
infection where
the incidence is
increased by the
release of peel oil
Good agricultural
practices:
Removal of dead
wood to remove
inoculum source
Minimize injury to
fruits
Rapid cooling of
fruits after harvest
because fungus
does not spread
fast at 10°C
Prompt removal of
infected fruits
Cole & Wood 1970
Eckert & Eaks 1989
Timmer
et al
. 2000
Brown 2003c
