Diseases of Fruit Plantation Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Rhizopus rot

Rhizopus rot or soft rot
Causal Organism: Rhizopus stolonifer

SYMPTOMS

Rhizopus fruit rot or watery fruit rot develops on injured fruits producing irregular, water soaked lesions. These lesions are in due course, covered with whitish fungal growth which later turns dark brown. The fruit becomes watery and emit foul smell. Infection spreads quickly to the adjoining fruits.

Causal Organism

The sporangiophores are produced on arching stolons, usually borne on opposite tuft of rhizoids and typically unbranched sporangiophores.

Epidemiology

Factors such as nature and type of wounds, rainfall, pre and post harvest treatments and shipment conditions influence the development of rot.