Fruit rot: Round black spots on the fruit
Pathogen: Aspergillus sp.
Symptoms
The symptoms are in the form of round black spots on the fruit and petiole. The disease starts from calyx end and gradually the entire fruit shows black spots. The fruit further rots emitting a foul odour. Fruits infected by Aspergillus sp. generally are slightly off-color such as a paler red and may show some yellowish to brownish-red discoloration.
Disease development
Aspergillus rot infections begin most commonly in the orchard following rain during flowering and early fruit development. Colonization by Aspergillus niger 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.