Alternaria fruit spot: Black rot

Pathogen: Alternaria alternate

Symptoms

Black rot of the fruit core that spreads from the calyx area, whereas the outer peel and the hard rind retain their healthy appearance.

Disease development

At the beginning of disease development, the fungus causes brown soft rot of the arils, which becomes black and dry as the fungus grows. Eventually, the fungus grows from the lower loculus into the upper loculi, causing rot of the entire fruit.

Control

All the affected fruits should be collected and destroyed.Spraying Mancozeb (0.25%) or Dithane M- 45 (0.25%) or Captaf (0.25%) effectively controls the disease.

#Fungal