Fruit rot: Infected fruit
Pathogen:Colletotrichum sp.
Symptoms
Discolouration of fruits starts from calyx end or fruit surface. The discoloured area becomes reddish brown to black and is dry. The infected area covers half to full fruit within a week. The rot extends beyond rind into the arils which disintegrate and are dark grey/brown black colour but are not watery.
Disease development
Fungal infections begin most commonly in the orchard following rain during flowering and early fruit development. Colonization by fungus is often associated with insect infestations, such as feeding by hemipterans, or other factors that cause fruit injury or cracking e.g., bird pecking, sunburn etc.
Control
The disease can be controlled by spraying of Bavistin (0.5%), Dithane M-45 (0.25%) or Dithane Z-78 (0.25%) at an interval of 10-15 days from the onset of flowering.