Causal Agent:
Fungus (Colletotrichum sp.)
| Characteristic Symptoms: | |
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Small water-soaked spots on ripening fruit. |
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Spots become sunken, turn brown or black and may enlarge to 5 cm in diameter. |
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The pathogen may produce salmon pink or black mass of spores in the middle of older spots and can grow into the fruit, resulting in softening of the tissue. |
| Conditions for Disease Development: | |
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The pathogen survives between crops on infected plant residue or infected volunteer plants and can be carried on seed harvested from infected fruit. |
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Conidia/spores produced on foliage are disseminated by wind, rain splashes, tools/implements and field workers. |
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Humid, rainy weather favours infection. |
| Management and Control: | |
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Maintain good field sanitation (i.e. early removal of infected fruits).
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Avoid prolonged moisture.
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Use pathogen-free/certified seeds. |
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Spray with chemical fungicides like difenoconazole (e.g. ScoreⓇ, MontanaⓇ, PursueⓇ, BashⓇ), difenoconazole+proficonazole (e.g. ArmureⓇ), Pyraclostrobin (e.g. Cabrio 25 ECⓇ), Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (e.g. Serenade®, Virtuoso®) metalaxyl+mancozeb (e.g. Ridomil Gold MZ 68 WGⓇ, Apron XL 350 ESⓇ) and azoxystrobin (Amistar®, MiradorⓇ, RobatoⓇ) at the beginning of fruit set and continue at appropriate intervals while plants are producing fruits |
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