• Distinguished from other rots by the black color of this spot
• Small, black, pimple-like eruptions.
• Specks are the pycnidia or fruiting bodies of the fungus.
• Moderate temperature and high humidity.

Identification of pathogen:

Fungus:

• Mycelium- septate, branching & hyaline, becoming dark with age
• Pycnidia – subcutaneous and later erumpent, dark subglobose
• Pycnospores- hyaline, subglobous

Favourable condition:

• moderate temperature and high humidity.
• Most rapid decay on ripe fruits @ 21°C, but since tomatoes ripen more rapidly at about 23°C, the disease may be more promptly in the ripening room

Spread and survival:

• Seed borne
• By infected transplants or rain-splashed from infected crop debris
• Fruits – wounds, stem scars
• Progress is more in ripe than in green fruits

Management:

• Seed treatment – ceresan dust (5% ethyl mercury phosphate)
• Seed be sanitation
• Do not harvest when plants are wet
• To control contamination in packing process- 5% borax solution containing 0.5 % liquid tar soap as washing medium

Content validator:
Dr. M. Deivamani, Assistant Professor, Horticulture Research Station, Yercaud-636602.