POST HARVEST DISEASES

Post harvest diseases destroy 10-30 per cent of the

total crop yield

In some perishable crops ›30 per cent

Post harvest diseases develop on plant produce

during harvesting, grading and packing

During transportation to market/ consumer

While in possession of the consumer until the actual

consumption

SYMPTOMS

Great losses are usually caused to

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Grains and legumes

ASPERGILLUS, PENICILLIUM, ERWINIA, MONILINIA,

ZYGOMYCETES, AND SCLEROTINIA DISEASES

Aspergillus ear rot of corn, caused by Aspergillus

flavus

Infection under storage condition

Storage fungi emerging from embryos of wheat seed

incubated in a moist atmosphere.

(Aspergillus spp. & Penicillium spp.)

Concealed damage (yellow moldand aflatoxin) in peanut seeds

split in half to reveal sporulating Aspergillus flavus.

Sporulation of Aspergillus

flavus

on a peanut kernel

Black mold on an onion bulb, caused

by Aspergillus niger and other fungi

Penicillium ear rot of corn.

(Penicillium spp.)

Penicillium ear rot of corn,

caused by P. oxalicum

Blue mold on citrus, with heavy

sporulation of Penicillium italicum.

Several stages of green mold on sweet

oranges. (Penicillium digitatum)

Decay of garlic cloves, caused by Penicillium hirsutum

ERWINIA SPP.

Stem rot of Aloë vera, caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi,

resulting in a complete loss of the plant

Soft rot of crisphead lettuce, caused by

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora.

Soft rot on lettuce crown, caused by

Erwinia carotovora pv. carotovora

Bacterial soft rot of tomato, caused by Erwinia spp.

Purple stain of papaya caused by Erwinia herbicola

showing bright purple speckling that fades to a greenish yellow

a few hours after fruits are cut open

MONILINIA FRUCTICOLA

Mature apotheica of Monilinia sp.

on mummified blueberry

1. Rhizopus rot of grape,

caused by Rhizopus

arrhizus

2. Rhizopus soft rot of papaya

caused by Rhizopus stolonifer.

3. Choanephora fruit rot of summer squash, caused by

Choanephora cucurbitarum.

Rhizopus soft rot of melon, caused

by

Rhizopus stolonifer.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

sclerotia

on bean pods and stem

Germinating sclerotium and

apothecia of Sclerotinia

sclerotiorum on bean

Sclerotinia rot on pea pods showing

mycelial mat is about to become a

large, black sclerotium. (S.

sclerotiorum)

Pea seed contaminated with

sclerotia S. sclerotiorum.

Sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum inside a soybean

stem

Sclerotinia rot of melon, caused by S. Sclerotiorum; Sclerotinia stem rot of tomato

Sclerotia of S. Sclerotiorum in tomato stem

White mold on bean pods, caused by Sclerotinia

sclerotiorum.