Articles
Postharvest Phytophthora rot of pome fruit
Article number
1451_26
Pages
181 – 186
Language
English
Abstract
Apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) are important fruit crops in the Netherlands.
In recent years, postharvest fruit rots were observed on the apple cultivars such as ‘Elstar’ and ‘Kanzi’, and pear cultivars such as ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenné du Comice’. The symptoms were found after storage in controlled-atmosphere storage facilities on fruits from different orchards across the Netherlands.
Disease incidences up to 50% of the stored fruit were observed.
The diseased fruits showed circular brown to black spots with irregular and diffuse margins that enlarged rapidly to form distinctive rings, typical of Phytophthora infection.
Isolation and identification revealed a number of Phytophthora species, e.g., P. cactorum, and P. syringae. Some of the rot incidences could be related to orchard infections; due to overhead irrigation (sprinkler rot) or to heavy rainfall near harvest.
In addition, surveys were performed at several packinghouses and storage facilities to assess the presence of Phytophthora in water flumes.
These assessments were carried out with Rhododendron, apple and pear fruit baits.
Next to the most commonly Phytophthora species, also P. chlamydospora was abundantly detected in water. P. chlamydospora is normally found in streams and wet soil worldwide and has only rarely been recovered as a pathogen from ornamental and woody species.
These surveys revealed serious potential risks for Phytophthora infections during the grading and sorting process of pome fruit.
In recent years, postharvest fruit rots were observed on the apple cultivars such as ‘Elstar’ and ‘Kanzi’, and pear cultivars such as ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenné du Comice’. The symptoms were found after storage in controlled-atmosphere storage facilities on fruits from different orchards across the Netherlands.
Disease incidences up to 50% of the stored fruit were observed.
The diseased fruits showed circular brown to black spots with irregular and diffuse margins that enlarged rapidly to form distinctive rings, typical of Phytophthora infection.
Isolation and identification revealed a number of Phytophthora species, e.g., P. cactorum, and P. syringae. Some of the rot incidences could be related to orchard infections; due to overhead irrigation (sprinkler rot) or to heavy rainfall near harvest.
In addition, surveys were performed at several packinghouses and storage facilities to assess the presence of Phytophthora in water flumes.
These assessments were carried out with Rhododendron, apple and pear fruit baits.
Next to the most commonly Phytophthora species, also P. chlamydospora was abundantly detected in water. P. chlamydospora is normally found in streams and wet soil worldwide and has only rarely been recovered as a pathogen from ornamental and woody species.
These surveys revealed serious potential risks for Phytophthora infections during the grading and sorting process of pome fruit.
Authors
M. Wenneker, K. Pham, K. Kots
Keywords
packing house, baits, Rhododendron, infection, fruit rot
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