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Post Harvest Diseases:: Vegetables:: Cucurbits

Choanephora wet rot: Choanephora cucurbitarum
Symptom:
  • Attacks the blossoms first and progresses into the developing fruit causing a wet rot at the blossom end
  • Fruit rot progresses rapidly and can affect entire fruit within one or two days
  • Sporulation by the fungus appears as spines with dark heads on the surface of infected tissues
 
  Wet rot at blosoom end Fungal spores on squash Pumpkin choanephora rot
Identification of pathogen:
  • Fungus produces both conidia and sporangiophores
  • Conidiophores - unbranched and has a spherical head

Mode of spread and survival:

  • Attacks cauliflower, cotton, cucumber, pumpkin, radish and squash
  • Survive as a saprophyte - as chlamydospores and zygospores
  • Spread - air, beetles and bees

Management:

Crop management practices

  • Reduce soil moisture (raised beds)
  • Prevent fruit injury
  • Prevent soil contact with the soil (plastic mulches or trellising) 

Post harvest losses may be reduced by

  • Harvesting fruits at proper stage of maturity
  • Minimizing cucurbit fruit injuries at harvest
  • Pre cooling fruit
  • Maintaining relatively low storage temperature
Source of Images:
http://www.apsnet.org/publications/imageresources/Pages/IW00007.aspx
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/diseases-of-cucurbits/choanephora-rot/
http://extension.cropsciences.illinois.edu/fruitveg/pdfs/950_fruits_rots_pumpkin.pdf

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