REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Nobody knows exactly when man came to realize the prevalence of plant

diseases. There are some evidences of disease recorded in the Old Testament such as

blights and mildews of crop plants. Romans were aware of rust diseases of wheat and

thought that these diseases were God-sent and celebrated special festivals to honour

the Gods to get rid of these diseases. The Rust God Robigo was honoured by the

Romans at a special festival called Robigala when the crop was neared maturity

(Reed, 1942). Rust, mildew and blight diseases of crop plants were reported by

B.C.Varro, Theophrastus, I'liny, Secundus, Columella and others in their writings in

the first century B.C. Several new diseases were reported during the Shakespearean

era. However the cause of these diseases still remained unknown (Orob, 1971;

Buller, 191 5)

Fungi have a fossil record that extends back to the Devonian and Pre-cambian

eras. There are records of plant diseases in the Vedas (1200 B.C.) and of blasting and

mildews in the Bible. The role that mushrooms played in religion and mythology of

Mexican and Gautemalan - Indian tribes is well documented by Lowy (1971, 1974,

1977). They used agaric sprophores in religious ceremonies and as hallucinogens

(Wasson and Wasson, 1957). The knowledge of ancient people on biological

fermentation in bread making and alcohol production played, a significant role in the

nutrition of human race (Meluotra and Aneja, 1998).

The discovery of mxcro-organisms by Antony Von Leeuwenhock in 1676

opened a new era in Biology. lrish famine during 1830 - 1840 stimulated interest in

plant pathology. Several thousand people died due to Ergot of rye in Europe (Gray,

1959). Bengal famine in 1943 is due to Helminthosporium disease of rice

(Padmanabhan. 1973). Some diseases like coffee rust caused by t-iemileia vastarix in

1880 resulted in the ,ibandot lent of cultivation of coffee in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)

(Dasgupta. 1958). Similarly, banana cultivation met great disasters due to Panama

wilt in Australia and 'Sigatoka' disease in Mexico.

Ainsworth (1976) in his fascinating book Introduction to the History of

Mycology gives a straight - forward account of the main views held about fungi for

the last 3 millenia and the development of the study of h g i for the last 250 years. He

had collected informations scattered at various places.

Advanced study of fungi in India started in the middle of nineteenth century.

Hooker collected fungi from India as early as 1859, followed by Kirtikar,

Cunningham, Barclay etc. The total number of species of Indian fungi known to

science before 1850 would scarcely have exceeded one hundred (Butler, 1918). In

1901, E.J. Butler was appointed as a systemic mycologist as well as a plant

pathologist (Cryptogamic Botanist) to the Government of India. He laid strong

foundation for the study of Mycology and Plant Pathology in India and is rightly

considered as the Father of Indian Plant Pathology.

Indian mycologists like a Coleman, Sundararaman, Kulkarni, Uppal, Thomas

Dey, Mehta, Narasimhan, Bakshi, Bose, Venkatanarayanan, Ramakrishnan, Thind,

Thirumalachar, Dasgupta, Capoor, Patel, Subramanian, Rao, Tandon, Kamat, Saxena,

Sinha, Padmanabhan, Prasada, Sohi, Singh, Srivastava, Bilgrami etc. made important

contributions to the study of Mycology and Plant Pathology, during the last century.

Roughly about 10,000 species of hngi have been reported from India. Most

of these have been brought together in lists published by Butler and Bisby (1931),

Mukerji and Bhasin (1986) and Bilgramr et a1 (1979, 1981, 1991). I /

There are many a slips between the crop and the consumer.

Post harvest loss escalated the non - cultivation cost of a crop or reduced the

nutritional value of the family food inspires serious national malnutrition problem in

the hungrier part of the world increases retail price drastically, cuts the quantum of

money value of export and influences the post harvest technology and management

efforts (Dasgupta and Mandal, 1986).

Estimates of post harvest loss of perishables are varied as 25-50% for fruits

(Coursey and Booth, 1972) and 30-32% for vegetables (Robinson, 1983) and 12-

32% for root and stem tubers. In India 20-30% loss of the perishables are in the

marketing chain (FAO, 1977).

In West Bengal, Mandal and Dasgupta (198 1) made extensive survey on post

harvest loss of' perishables. In Maharashtra Kamath and Rao made survey on post

harvest loss in 1964. Subramanian (1976) made such a study in Bombay, Poona and

Nagpur. From all these studies it is revealed that a large quantity of the fruits and

vegetables are lost due to fungal diseases. The loss in quantity and quality are also

noticed. Mechanical. physiological and pathological damages are responsible for

such a revenue loss.

Between four and live hundred diseases of perishables have been described

(Dennis, 1983; Dasgupta and Mandal, 1986). It is frivolous to consider these diseases

since such pathogens are weak damaging mostly the injured tissues. Ecological and

epidemiological investigations in the field of post harvest pathology of perishables

have only lately been taken upto formulate a more scientific strategy of control.

Many pathogens are unable to invade uninjured tissues, rmmature tissues and

unripe fruits or naturally virescent organs. Acidity of cell sap, redox condition, tissue

differentiation etc. are considered to be factors that normally play an important role in

determining physiological specificity. Some perishables are susceptible only upon

inoculants at certain times of the year (Capellini and Ceponis, 1977). Natural or

slowly induced ripening 01' fruits show resistance to pathogen whereas quickly

induced ripening of green fruits promote susceptibility to diseases (Brown &

Barmore, 1977). Biosynthesis of ethylene at the onset of ripening may have

something to do with the res~stance of orange coloured fruits. In that case it has to be

assumed that while ethylene at low dose at a given level of differentiation is

associated with defence, at higher bioconcentration at subsequent level of

differentiation it turns out to create a congenial environment for infection. Different

factors affecting disease development and those causing predisposition favouring

susceptibility have been studied by many workers. Such factors are temperature, pH,

interaction of temperature and relative humidity, O2 tension, CO, tension, 0 2 - C02

tension, controlled atmospheric pressure, pre- inoculation conditions, storage

conditions for apparently uninfected h i t s etc. Dasgupta and Mandal (1986) have

reviewed such data.

The surface of the perishable produce contains a plethora of micro - organisms at harvest and continues to retain its inviting atmosphere till it is

consumed. There are a number of studies showing a variety of organisms at the site of

infection or on the surface of the produce as a whole, not many studies have been

made, which present anything more than a description of the scenario. A few may

however be referred to such a succession towards the pathogen as on cassava tubers

in Kerala (Philip, 1981).

Fungal spectra diffei tiom fruit species to fruit species and also among the

same type of fruits (Dennis, 1976). Such studies indicate succession in favour of

pathogens towards the harvesting time. Some pathogens are present throughout the

year but are not carried on the produce nor they can infect unwounded or unripe

tissue (Harris & Dennis, 1980). Kainsa ef a1 (1978) have studied the relative

efficiency of the surface organisms to cause spoilage.

In addition certain pathogenic fungi produce combined effect. For example

Rhizoctoniu solani and Fusurium oxysporum are reported to be non-pathogenic on

pumpkin, but together they produce spongy rot in artificial mixed inoculation and in

nature (Gangopadhyay and Sharma, 1976).

Fungal disease of produce is frequently associated with injuries caused by

poor harvesting and handling methods, defective containers and, in the case of

produce brought in schooners. inappropriate storage condition on board. The frequent

incidence of decay due to common field pathogens indicate a lack of proper selection

of produce for transport to market (Phelps et al, 1981).

In Indla, the fru~ts and vegetables are cultivated in remote villages and

transported to the towns 1 cities where they are consumed: i.e. the consumer end is far

away from the producer end. The fruits and vegetables produced in the villages are

transported to the towns n~ainly through railway wagons, trucks and even through the

traditional carts drawn by bullocks i horses. Poor handling, packing and transporting

facilities result in the development of fungal diseases during transit. Poor handling

results in the breakage or injury of the fruits and vegetables that facilitate fungal

infection. Handling under unhygienic conditions also results in post harvest diseases.

In Kerala most of the fruits and vegetables are transported through rail, road

and water transports within the state and from the neighbouring states. Surveys

conducted for post harvest diseases in the markets of Kerala revealed that fungal

diseases damage most of these commodities. For a detailed study of the fungal

diseases of perishables in the Kerala markets, knowledge of the fungal diseases

reported in the national and international markets is essential. So a review of post

harvest diseases reported earlier is included in this investigation. This section is

divided into four parts viz.,

Part - A

Post harvest fungal diseases of fruits

Part-B

Post harvest hngal diseases of fruity vegetables

Part - C

Post harvest hngal diseases of tuberous vegetables

Part - D Post harvest hngal diseases of underutilized fruits

FRUITS

PART - A

POST HARVEST FUNGAL DISEASES OF FRUITS

It is now a common knowledge that in very ancient times man used to live on

various wild fruits available to him. He became aware of the inedible nature of some

fruits and avoided them. After sometimes, the cultivation of ed~ble fruits was started

by man and. for this purpose, he chose those that were of good taste, large size and

were easy to grow. It is interesting to note that many of the fruits under cultivation

today are known to have originated in the same part of Asia, which was the earliest

home of man. With the progress of civilizations, the nutritive value and other

qualities of the fruits were studied and gradually the present-day fruits were

developed.

In the tropics, fruits may often be the chief food and sometimes the only

source of food, while in the temperate regions, they are more an addition to the staple

food.

Morphologically. a fruit is the seed-bearing portion of the plant and it consists

of the ovary and its different contents. Fruits derived from a single ovary are known

as simple, while those derived from more than one ovary are known as compound.

The latter may be of two different kinds, one developing from numerous free carpels

of the same flower and the other from ovaries of different flowers of an inflorescence.

They are referred to as aggregate fruits and composite fruits respectively.

There are innumerable tropical and sub-tropical fruits and the native people

eat many of them daily. The edible fruits belong to a large number of families, the

important among them being Anacardiaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, Sapotaceae and

Sapindaceae (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001 ).

This part of the rekiew of literature deals with post harvest diseases of eleven

selected h i t s on which the present project was undertaken. All these fruits are

widely marketed in the state of Kerala, almost throughout the year.

A. 1. APPLE (Malus sylvestrk Mill.) ( = M puntila (L.) Mill.)

Fam. Rosaceae

Mal. 'Apple '

Hindi Seh

Apple belongs to the family Rosaceae. The plant is a low tree with a round

crown, whlch 1s rarely more than 12 m in height. Fruit is a fleshy pome, sub-globose,

of varying shape, size and colour, having a depression on either side.

Apple varieties have two categories, namely, diploids and triploids. The

diploids are self-fruitful and triploids are self-unfruitful. The latter becomes

productive when suitable pollenizer varieties are used.

Apple has been cultivated since ancient times. It is believed to have originated

in the mountainous regions lying between Western Himalayas on the one hand and

Caucasus and Asia Minor on the other. Apple is considered to be the most important

fruit of temperate regions and is extensively cultivated in many parts of the world. In

India, it is grown on a commercial scale mostly in the hills of Kashmir, Shimla, Kulu,

Kumaon and to a limited extent, in the Nilgiris. The total area occupied by it in the

country is 12.141 hectares. The fruits are picked as and when they become mature but

are still hard.

Apples are commonly eaten as such and are considered as very valuable

dessert fruits. The fruits are sometimes preserved after they are sliced and dried.

Besides being canned, apples are also used for preparation of jams, puddings and

jellies. The juice obtained from the fruits may be taken fresh or may be used after

fermentation into cidar, wine and vinegar. The cidar may be distilled to produce apple

brandy.

Apples are rich in pectin, vitamins, salts and organic acids are present

particularly in the skin of the fruit and just below. The fiesh fruit also contains

calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulphur, iron etc. Apart from

being valuable for human nutrition, the fruits have certain medicinal properties also.

They are useful in diarrhoea and murabba prepared from them in India is regarded as

a heart stimulant.

' :, I

:,'<& Some of the important varieties are Red Delicious, Golden ~ e l i w ~ 6 v p z ~ l t - - : . '

'.> ., 7 Wonder, Starking Delicious, Baldwin, Ambri Kashmiri, Beauty of Bath, .Jonathan,

Rome Beaut), Red Astrachan, Yellow Newton, Winter Bavana, James Grieve, King

of Pippins. Early Shanbuny, Rqmer, Ben Davis, Granny Smith and Irish Peach (Sen,

1996; Pandey. 200 1 ).

Several fungi in the pre and post harvest state affect Apple. The important

fungul diseases recorded earlier are

Apple scab

It is the most serious disease of apple in North India. Venturia inaequalis

(Cooke) Wint. infects the leaves and fruits of apple, causing olive-green to black

spotting. On the fru~t severe spotting (which may coalesce) downgrades the h i t and

can lead to cracking, secondary storage infection and poor keeping (Gupta & Lele,

1980; Mandal 1981). Pushkamath (1935) and Puttoo et a1 (1980) reported this disease ' ,

from Kashmir (North India). Apple scab or scurf disease is also reported by Rao 5

(1963, 1964) from apple fruits brought to Bombay markets during cold season. He

observed the anamorph of C I inaequulis (Cooke) Wint., the Fusicladium dendriticum

(Wallr.) Fuck.

Circular brown spot

Circular brown spot is known from all apple producing areas of the world. It

has been reported from India from U.P. (Grewal, 1954), Maharashtra (Rao, 1966),

Himachal Pradesh (Agarwal & Sharma, 1968), M.P. (Ratnam & Nema, 1967), Delhi

(Thakur & Chenulu, 1970 ) and West Bengal (Mandel, 1981). The disease is more

prevalent on refrigerated produce than on the fresh fruits. The disease manifests as

brown to blackish. slightly brown zone. The rotting is dry, the tissue under the lesion

becomes soft and somewhat brown to blackish, while the skin remains firm and

tough. The causal organism is Alternuria alternata (Fr.) Keissl,

Black mould rot

It is caused by AspergiNus niger V. Tiegh. and is one of the most important

post harvest dlseases of apples reported in India (Dey & Nigam, 1933; Sinha, 1946;

Agamal & Sharma, 1968; Thakur & Chenulu, 1970; Bilgrami el al, 1979). It has

been reported that A niger V. Tiegh. and A. expansum can infect simultaneously

causing the black mould rot. Thind ei a1 (1 976) noticed A. candidus Link. cause fruit

rot in the markets of M.P.

Blue mould rot

It is caused by PenzciNium expansum Link. is a destructive disease of apple in

transit and storage which is world wide in occurrence. It is well known in India

reported from U.P. (Gupta & Shukla. 1955; Bilgrami et al, 1979), M.P. (Ratnam &

Nema, 1967), Maharashtra (Rao, 1966) and Himachal Pradesh (Kaul & Munjal,

1981).

Rhizopus rot

This disease is due to Khizopus stolonifer Ehr. ex Fr. and is known from U.P.,

Maharashtra, M.P., Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Meghalaya (Singh, 1941, Rao,

1966; Ratnam & Nema 1967; Bilgrami et al, 1979; Kaul & Munjal, 1981; Mandal,

1981) and R. trrrhizus Fischer (Mehta 1939; Thakur & Chenulu, 1970) are also

reported to cause infection in [)elhi.

Soft rot

Soft rot is brought by the combined infection of the well known grey mould

Rhizopus nigricans Ehr.ex Fr. and the blue mould Penicillium expansum Link. which

results in the total rotting of the fruit and emission of a strong alcoholic odour (Dey &

Nigam, 1933; Singh, 1941; Kao, 1964).

Sour rot

Sour rot has been reported from M.P. and Meghalaya (Bilgrami et al, 1979;

Mandal, 1981). Cieotrrchum candidum Link. ex Pers. is responsible for this disease.

Yellow rot caused by Mucor h~emalis Wehm. is reported from West Bengal (Mandal

& Dasgupta 1981). Bitter rot of apples due to Gloeosporiurnfiuctigenurn Berk. is

known from U.P. and Haryana (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986). It is also caused by

Glomerella cingulaia (Stonern.) Spauld. & Shrenk. (Bilgrami et al, 1979).

Other diseases of minor importance are the black rot caused by

Botryodiplodia obiusa reponed by Mandal and Dasgupta (1981) from West Bengal.

Rots caused by Botryodiplodia sp. and Trichothecium sp. (Pandey et al, 1980),

specices of Penicillium. Myrothecium and Haplosporella (Gupta and Sharma, 1981)

are known. Irregular brown spot due to Curvularia lunata (Wakk.) Boed. and

C geniculata Tr.& Earl. (Thakur & Chenulu, 1970; Thind et al, 1978; Mandal, 1981)

is recorded from Dehi, M P, and West Bengal. White cottony rot due to Fusarium

monil~orme Scheld. is a minor disease noticed only on injured fruits from West

Bengal has been reported by Mitra ( 1934).

Gloeosporium spp cause stalk end rot of apples (Jamaluddin et al, 1972).

Brown spot due to Hendersonula ioruloidea Nattrass (Laxminarayana & Reddy,

1975), musty brown rot due to Cluthridium corticola (Fuckel) Shoem. & Muller

(Thind et al, 1975), pink disease caused by Pellicularia salmonicolor (Berk. & Br.)

Dast. from U.P., fruit canker caused by Glutinium macrosporum Zell. from

Himalayas are also known (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Fruit rot due to Atremonium rmplicatum (Abbot.) Gams. from M.P., Botrytis

cinerea Pers. ex Fr. from H.P., Epicoccum nigrum Link., Gliocephalotrichum

bulbilium Ell. & Hess. from U.P., Gliocladium roseum Bain from Haryana,

Nigrospora oryzae (Berk. & Br.) Petch. from U.P., Pestalotia hartigii Tub. from H.P.

and U.P.. Pestalotropsis versicolor (Speg.) Stey. from U.P., Phoma mali Schulz. &

Sacc. from H.P., Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert-Cohn.) Schrot. from H.P and

P. colocasrae Racib. em. Thom. & Ramakr. from Maharashtra, Pythium vexans de

Bary from all over South India, apple scab due to Spiloceapomi Fr. from J . & K. are

other diseases recorded (Mukeji & Bhasin 1986).

A. 2. BANANA (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Fam. Musaceae

Mal. Vazhuppazham

Hindi Kela

Banana belongs tcl the family Musaceae. The plant is one of the tallest herbs

1 to 3 m heigh and 15 to 25 cm thick at base. The robust tree-like stem is actually the

pseudostem developing from an underground perennial rhizome, which is large and

globose. Fruit an oblong or fusiform fleshy beny, often slightly curved on one side ' '

with or without seed.

Banana is one of the most important tropical fruits. I1 is indigenous to Indo-

Malayan region. Cultivation of edible bananas is believed to have been started in this

region in prehistoric times. It is possibly the world's oldest cultivated crop. It is now

extensively cultivated in the tropical countries of Asia and Africa, in the Carribean

Islands. So far as India is concerned, banana occupies an area of over 1,85,000

hectares and it is mainly grown in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, , 8

Gujarat, Karnataka, A.P.. Bihar and Assam.

The usual practice is to harvest banana before it is ripe. The ripening is then

done artificially in various ways, such as exposing the bunches to the sun, placing

them over a hearth. wrapping them with green leaves and piling them in a heap,

storing them in a closed godowns or smoking them. The h i t s take 30 to 48 hours to

ripen. In order to prevent rotting of the fruits during ripening, vaseline or a layer of

clay or coal-tar may be applied to the cut end of the stalk.

The cultivated varieties are broadly divided into two groups, namely, table

and culinary. The former includes several varieties like Mortaman, Champa,

Kanthali, Amrita Sagar in West Bengal; Poovan in Tamil Nadu; Basrai, Safed Velchi,

Lal Velchi, Rajeli in Maharashtra; Rastali, Sinunalai, Chakkarekeli, Kadali and Pacha

Nadan in certain parts ot' Southern India. Basrai, known under different names as

Mauritius, Vamankeli, Cavendish etc. is also grown in central and southern India. In

recent years, a variety known as Robusta is becoming popular in Tamil Nadu and

Karnataka. Of the culinary varieties, Monthan, Mynodli and Pacha Montha Bathis are

important varieties in Southern India. Gross Michel, suitable for growing under

garden conditions has been recently introduced in Southern India.

The ripe fruits are edible, delicious and very nutritious. The content of

carbohydrates is high and., in addition, they have some fat and proteins. A fair amount

of each of the vitamins, A, BI, B2 and C is also present in them. The fruits are rich in

magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Their food value is about three times

that of wheat. The banana leaves are used in religious functions and serves as plates

in hotels and in festive occasions. Unripe bananas are cooked and eaten as vegetables.

In certain parts of the country, the inflorescence-end and the inner core of the pseudo-

stem are also used as vegetables and relished very much. Banana powder made from

dried green fruits can be used as baby food and in the manufacture of chocolate and

biscuits. The ripe fruits are used to prepare wine, jams, jellies, puddings and halwa

The famous Kerala banana chips are prepared from ripe raw fruits of a variety named

nendrun (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 200 1).

Cultivated banana js susceptible to many diseases, mostly fungal which

attacks various parts of the plant from root to fruit.

Crown rot . .

Crown rot of banana once caused a serious problem for post harvest fruits ~T

during transit (Greene & Goos, 1963; Papaisri Pitakpaivan, 1986). Fungi associated

with crown rot of banana were isolated and identified from fruits obtained from

Mexico, Guatemala, Costa-Rica and Eucador in October and November 1993.

Fusarium sernitrctum Berk.. & Rav. and PeniciNium spp. were isolated more

frequently. Other fungi isolated are F moniliforme Scheld. and Gliocladium roseum

Bain. After inoculatiar~ of crowns, F. moniliforme Scheld, and

F. semitectum Berk. & Rav. caused the greatest amount of rot (Martin et al, 1996).

Black tip

Drechslera (Helminthosporium torulosum (Syd.) Ashby) produces leaf spots

and black tip of the fruits. The damage is severe when the fruit is infected. Infection

starts mostly at the tip starting from the floral remnants. The infection causes uneven

ripening of fruits in a bunch. The damage reduces market value of the fruit

(Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999).

Phytophthora rot

Phytophthora spp. infect leaf sheaths and pseudostems of banana (Wardlaw,

1961). Artificial inoculation of banana fruits with Phytophthorapalmivora Butl. from

Cacao, coconut (Reinking, 1923) and P, parasitica Dast. from egg plant (Cabaccang

et al, 1965) and P. parasitcu vrw: macrospora Thirum., Shaw & Naras, from Annona

squamosa I,. (Kao el al, 1962 11 proved to cause infection.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose of banana has been reported mainly on fruit. It was once a

serious problem when fiuits were shipped as a whole bunch. Two distinct kinds of

anthracnose are found on fruit, the green fruits are infected first, which later attack

the fruits during ripening. The pulp of the fruit is affected. High temperature favours

the disease. The causal agent is (blletotrichum musae (Berk. & Curt.) Arx. (Smoot et

al, 1971; Bilgrami er al, 1979, 1981.)

Freckle disease

It is caused by conidial stage of Phyllostica musarum (Cooke.) Petr., the

anamorph of Guignardia musue Racib. The characteristics of freckling can be noticed

on both green and mature fnlits. The causal agent is Phyllostica musae or

Ph)~llosricfinu musarum (Cooke.) Petr. (Papaisri Pitakpaivan, 1986; Manoharachary

& Rama Rao, 1989).

Black rot

Black rot 1s common on ripening fru~ts in storage and causes widespread

damage and decay High temperature and humidity favour spreading of this desease.

Infected fruits at later stages become dark skinned, pulpy and shrivelled. The fungus

causing th~s d~sease 1s ~dentified as Gloeosporzum musarurn Cke.& Mass. Fruits in

the green condition are not affected (Wardlaw 1931; Rao, 1963, 1964; r

Manoharachary & Rama Rao, 1981) tiloeosporium musarum Cke. & Mass.is also ,,

responsible for cigar end rot (Srivastava et al, 1964 ).

Fusarium rot

This disease appeared both in fruits still attached to the bunches but more so

in the fruits detached from the main bunches. This disease was noticed in both green

as well as ripe fruits (Wardlaw, 1933). Rao (1963, 1964) isolated and identified the

causal agent as r? roseum Link.from infected samples in Maharashtra. The disease is

more serious on artificially ripened banana.

In Italy and Spain much work has been conducted by Jimenez et a1 (1993) on

Fusarium rot of banana. Diseased fruit samples were collected from Panama, Eucador

and Canary islands. The Fusarium spp. isolated and identified are F. semifecrum var.

majus (Wollenw), F. morzil~forme Scheld., F. solani (Mart.) App. & Wollenw,

F. oxysporurn Schl. ex Fr., F. prolifrnatum (Metsushima) Nirenberg.

F. graminearum Schw., 17 camptoceras Wollenw & Reinking, F. subglutinans

Wollenw & Reinking, F. climerum Penz. & Sacc., F. acuminattrm Ell. & Ev, and

F. equiseti (Corda.) Sacc. of which F. subglutinans Wollenw & Reinking

F. acuminaturn Ell. & Ev. and F graminearum Schw, were found to be most

markedly pathogenic. Fusariutn rot due to F. moniliforme Scheld. reduce quality of

fruits (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999) F. oxysporum Schl. ex Fr. also causes fruit

rot (Barthakur & Baruah, 1953). Other Fusarium spp. are F. solani (Mart.) Sacc.

(Chakraborty er al, 1977; Mmdal, 1981).

Fluffy white rot due to F moniliforme Scheld. is recorded from U.P.

(Khanna & Chandra. 1974, 1975). Trinidad (Wardlaw, 1972) and from Delhi

(Dharam Vir, 1977) in India.

Brown rot

'This is one of the most important diseases of ripe banana caused by

Botryodiplodiu lheohromar Sacc. This Disease is noted in storage as well as in transit

and markets (Wardlaw, 1972). In India, this disease has been recorded from U.P.,

Delhi, Maharashtra, A.P. and West Bengal (Srivastava et al, 1964). This disease is

also known from West lndies (Becze, 1933).

Squirter disease

This d~sease is reported from U.P. (Srivastava el al, 1964; Bilgrami et al,

1979, 1981). The causal agent of this disease is Nigrospora oryzaa Berk. & Br. Petch.

(Wardlaw. 1972).

Other diseases of impo~tance are Rhizopus rot due to R. oryzae Went. &

Gerling, R. rhizopodiformis and R, stolonifer Ehr. ex Fr. reported from different

states of India (Bilgrami el trl, 1979, 1981). Mandal and Dasgupta (1983) reported

black soft rot of banana from West Bengal caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehm. Black

mould rot due to Aspergil1u:r niger V. Tiegh. (Thakur & ChenuWu 1970; Mandal &

Dasgupta 1983), wet rot due to Botrytis cinerea Pers. from U.P. (Singh & Khare,

1977), pink mould rot due Trichothecium roseum Link. ex Fr. from U.P., Delhi,

A.P., Bihar and Maharashtra are other post harvest diseases reported (Rao, 1964;

Srivastava & Tandon, 1971 ). Cigar end rot caused by VerticiNium theobromae

(Turc.) Mason & Hughes it; reported from U.P. & M.P. (Dhingra et al, 1970;

Srivastava &Tandon, 1971). Alternaria rot caused by A. alternata (Fr.) Keissl.,

black rot by ( 'ladosporium cladosporoides (Fr.) de Vr. black spot by Deighroniella

torulosa (Syd.) t l l . are also reported from India (Manoharachary & Rama Rao,

1989).

Fruit rot due to Gihhrrel'la persicaria (Eddy) Hesseltine var indica Mehrotra

& Mehrotra from [J.P., cbarcoaY rot due to Macrophominaphaseolina (Tassi) Goid.,

fruit rot due to Melanosporu damnosa (Sacc.) Lind., Pestalotia leprilegna Speg.,

Geotrichum candidum Link. ex Pers. and Phoma psidii P. Henn., from Maharashtra,

white rot of banana due to Sole.rotium roljsii Sacc. from Karnataka, fruit rot caused

by Verticillium alho-atrum Reink. & Berthold from Rajasthan are other diseases

recorded from India (Muke j i & Hhasin. 1986).

A. 3. CUSTARD APPL'E (Annono squomoso L.)

Fam. Annonaceae

Mal. A tthachakku

Hindi Sharifu

Custard apple belongs to the family Annonaceae. It is a medium sized tree. It

is native of South Amerlica and West Indies. In India it is cultivated in Assam,

Bengal, l1.P.. Maharashtra~ and South India. The yellowish-green tuberculate fruit is

about 5 to 8 cm in diameter. It has a white custard-like pulp. The fruit is a fleshy

syncarp, formed by the Fusion of numerous ripened ovaries and the receptacle.

Different specices of Annontr are cultivated. They are A. reticulata L., A. squamosa

L. and A, muricata I.. The fruits are edible and quite popular. The pulp of the h i t is

juicy white or cream yellow, delicately flavoured, sweet flesh. They can be made into

drinks and fermented liquor, used in salads (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Custard apple is susceptible to some major and minor diseases

Phytopbthora rot

Rot due to P.paraslitit.a Dast. affects the young, green and ripened fruits. The

diseased fruits typically drq out, shrivel, harden and drop from the tree (Purss, 1955;

Rao et al, 1963). Rao et u'l (1962) isolated P. parasifica var. macrospora Thirum.

Shaw, & Naras. from seeds and rinds of A. squamosa L. and established

pathogenicity in green fruits with and without injuries.

Black rot

Th~s is a major prt and post harvest disease caused by Diplodia natalensis

Evans. Affected fru~ts become brittle and light in weight. Infected fruits do not

develop in size and remains small. Green as well as half npe or ripe fruits are

attacked by this fungus (Rao, 1963, 1964).

Fusarium rot

This disease is very common mostly on half-ripe h i t s during the monsoon

season. The fungus appears to he a wound parasite causing decays and storage rots of

several other fruits (Rao, 1964).

Charcoal rot

1 his disease is caused by Rhizoctonia hatalicola (Taub.) Butl. The infection is

general occurrence in ripe fruits. Fruits lose their natural green colour and firmness,

shrink and are reduced to dark rotted mass and such fruits emit a kind of odour

characteristic of damp-soil (Rao, 1964).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is semen on green as well as half-ripened h i t s . The causal agent

is Coileti~trichum gloeosporoides Penz. The pathogen produces small angular, deep-

brown to dark cankerous spots on the affected fruits (Rao, 1964). This disease has

been reported in Annoncr reliculata L. from Haryana (Dhingra et ~1,1980). The causal

agent is reported as the telon~orph Glomerella cingulata (Stonem.) Spauld & Shrenk.

of Colletotrichum gloeospori~ides Penz. Jain et a1 (1982) reported dry rot caused by '; ~.:;;,,' ' . . G, cingulattr (Stonem.) Spauld & Shrenk. from M.P.

Black spot

This disease is characterized by small irregular dark-brown spots over the

surface of the fruits. The fungus infects the half-ripened h i t s and imparts an ugly

appearance to the fruits, thus lowering the market value and durability. Rao (1964)

isolated a species of Pestali~tia from the infected fruits.

Other diseases of minor importance are pink disease caused by PeNicularia

salmonicolor (Berk. & Br.) Dast. (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999). Macrophoma

rot caused by a species of Macrophomu (Rao, 1964). Long-stored and ripening fruits

are affected by the mould fungi Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh., Rhizopus nigricans

Ehr.ex Fr. and Mucor mucecfo (Linn.) Bref. A species of Gloeosporium is often

found on ripend fruits inciting decays and emitting out alcoholic smell and producing

the typical pinkish colour on the rind. A species of Phoma is also responsible for fruit

rot (Rao, 1964) reported from Poona, Maharashtra. Cylindrocladium fruit and leaf

spot of custard apple is reported from Australia (Hutton & Sanevski, 1989).

Fruit rot due to Curvtrlaria lunatu (Wakk.) Boed. and Thielaviopsis paradoxa

(de Seynes) Hoehn. from U.l'., leaf and fruit spot caused by Pestalotia annonicola

Rao and P h~color Ell. & f.v. and fruit rot due to Rhizoctonia batalicola (Taub.)

Butl. from Maharashtra are also known from India (Mukerji & Bhasin 1986).

A. 4. GUAVA (Psidium guajava L.)

Fam. Myrtaceae

Mal. Perakku

Hindi Amrud

Guava belongs to the family Myrtaceae. The plant is a shrub or medium sized

hardy tree, wh~ch may attain a height of 8 m or so. Fruit large or small, round or oval,

green to lighr yellow berry, possessing flesh of various colours, crearnish white to

yellow and in some cases. red. Plucking of the fruits is done as and when they ripen

and it continues for several weeks.

Guava is a native of Central America and is believed to be introduced in India

by the Portuguese. The total area under this fruit plant in India is about 30,000

hectares. In respect of area and production, guava is the fourth most important fruit of

India. Of the states, U.P. accounts for the largest area, roughly about 9,840 hectares,

followed by Bihar, which has about 4,880 hectares. The fruit is grown on commercial

scale in certain other states also, mainly in Punjab, Maharashtra and A.P.

The fruits are edible and very much liked for their taste and flavour. They are

sweet, juicy and highly flavoured. They contain sugar and pectin apart from acid.

Besides being a rich source of vitamin C, the fruits have good amounts of vitamin A

and B also. The fmits are eaten fresh and are commonly used for making jams, jellies,

pastes and puddings.

Some of the important varieties are Lucknow-49, Allahabad Safeda, Seedless,

Dholka and Nasik (Sen. 1996; Pandey. 2001).

Several fungal diseases have been reported in guava from different parts of

the country and from outside.

Fruit cankerlscab

This disease occurs on green fruits only and originates in the field. The

infection is more or less superficial. The pulp below is not affected and no visible

decay is observed. The causal agent of this disease is Pestalotia psidii Pat.

(Venkatakrishnaiah, 1950; Patel et 01, 1950; Rao, 1964; Edward, 1965; Raychauduri ; , ,

& Verma, 1986). Peslulotiu p.~idii Pat. later known as Pestalotiopsis psidii (Pat.)

Venkat.was first recorded from Maharashtra (Pate1 et a/, 1950, Venkatakrishnaiah,

1953) and subsequently from all guava growing tracts of India (Sohi & Sridhar, 1971;

Mandal, 198 1 ).

Phytophthora rot

'This disease is reported from Haryana (Gupta et al, 1977) during rainy season.

High humidity. rainfall and moderate temparature favours the development of the

disease. Diseased fruits get deformed and start rotting. The disease is incited by

Phytophihoru parasilica var. nicotianae Tucker. Different specices of Phytophthora,

viz. P citricnlu. P. hcveue van. Breda detaam. and P. parasitica Dast. are

responsible for the rot ol! green and mature green fruits as reported from different

tropical areas of the world (KO er a/ , 1982). Thankamma (1983) isolated P. heveae

van. Breda &roam. from infected guava but the pathogen was incapable of infecting

rubber (Heveu hrazi1iensi.v L.) Phytophthora fruit rot is known from Punjab (Singh

et al, 1976). Kamataka (Mitra & Subramanian, 1929), Rajasthan (Sohi & Sridhar,

1971) Tamil Nadu, A.P. ancl Maharashtra (Hingorani, 1947; Rao, 1964; Midha & A Chohan, 1971: Bilgrami el a/ , 1979; George and David, 1986). P. Colocasiae Racib. \-

em. Thom. & Ramakr. known to cause fruit rot reported from Bihar (Mukeji &

Bhasin, 1986). Singh rr a1 (1978) reported P. nicotianae var. parasitica Dast. from

Kurushetra.

Brown rot

Brown rot is a common malady of ripened fruits reported from Maharashtra.

The initial infection originated on the tree itself and subsequently carried into the

market. Such fruits considerably lose their market and storage value. In advanced

stages the fru~ts rot completely , The causal organism of this disease is Phomupsidii

P. Henn. The pathogen enters ihe host through borer injuries (Rao, 1964). Brown rot

due to P psrdir P. Henn. has also been reported from other parts of the country

(Srivastava & Tandon, 1969; Chand el a[ , 1986).

Pink mould rot

Pink mould rot is a common disease in injured ripe fruits and absent in

uninjured fruits proving the fungus to be a weak pathogen. In advanced stages the

affected fruits become pulpy and tinally decay as a result of infection of secondiuy

putrifying organisms. The causal organism of the disease is Trichothecium roseum

(Pers.) Link. (syn. C'ephulotheci~m roseum Corda.) (Rao, 1963, 1964).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose affects green as well as half-ripe fruits. This disease did not

penetrate deep into the fruit lbut disfigure the h i t s and reduce their market value. The

infection is sporadic and of minor importance. This is a common storage disease and

the causal organism is C'olletotrichum psidii Curz. (Rao, 1964; Pathak, 1980;

Manoharachary & Rama Ibo, 1989). This disease is also reported from A.P. (Mehta

1951; Madhukar. 1988) and 1'J.P (Tandon & Singh, 1969).

Ripe rot

Thls d~sease 1s more common during rainy season in fruits stored in gunny

bags and ill-ventilated cellars. The causal agent of rip rot Gloeosporium psidii Delacr.

is reported from Maharastdra by Rao (1964). This disease is also known from other

parts of the country (Tandon & Aganval, 1954). ? <

Waxy rot

Waxy rot is hunt1 to be common occurrence in fmits in the process of

ripening during rainy season. The infected fruits become soft and pulpy ultimately

producing wet rot emitt~ng foul odour. The causal organism of waxy rot is

Geotrichum candidum Link.ex Pers. (Rao, 1964).

Other diseases are r13t caused by a species of Verticillium (Rao, 1964),

Curvularia iuberculutu Jain (Kapoor & Tandon, 1971) are also known. Rhizopus sp.,

Aspergi1lu.s sp. (Prabavathi rl al, 1991 ), Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl., Fusarium

oxysporum Schl. ex Fr., Pestalotiopsis theae (Saw.) Stey., Rhizopus srolonifer Ehr. ex

Fr. and Syncrphalusirum racemosum Cohn. (Manoharachary & Rama Rao, 1989),

Aspergillus nigrr V. Tiegh. ('Gupta et ul, 1979; Madhukar, 1988; Manoharachary &

Rama Rao, 1989). Pathak (1980) recorded fruit rot fungi, Glomerella psidii (Delacr.)

Sheld., Monila .siiophilu (Ivlot~t.) Sacc.. Penicillium spp.. Botryodiplodia theobromae

Sacc., Altrrnaria chartarum Preuss., Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer and R. nigricans

Ehr.ex Fr. also cause fruit rot (Srivastava & Tandon. 1969: Chand et al, 1986).

Botryodiplodia rot from l.:.P (Srivastava & Tandon, 1969; Bilgrami et al, 1979) and

Java (Prabavathl rt ul. 199 1). Dry rot due to Dipfodia natalensrs Evans from South

India are also known (Rajagopalan & Wilson, 1972). Madhukar (1988) made an

extensive survey of the fiingal diseases of guava fruits in the fruit markets of

Warrangal Dlstrlct of Andra Pradesh and recorded following diseases.

Acremonium rot - Acremonium terricola Link. ex Fr

Alternaria rot - Alternaria aNernata (Fr.) Keissl.

Aspergillus rot - Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh. & A . terreus Thom.

Chaetomium rot - Chartomium globosum Kunz. & Schm,

Cladosporium rot - Cladosporium cladosporoides Fr. de Vr.

Anthracnose - Collectotrichum gloeosporoides Penz.

Drechslera rot - Drechslera halodes (Drechs.) Subram. & Jain

D. huwaiiensis (Bugnicourt) Subram. & Jain

Fusarium rot - Fu.surium oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et

Hans. F. semitectum Berk. & Rav.

Humicola rot - Humicola grisea Traaen.

Brown rot - Lusidiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff. & Maubl.

Soft rot - Paecilomyces variotii Bain

Penicillium rot - Penicillium decumbens Thom.

Anthracnose - Pestulotiopsis versicolor (Speg.) Stey.

Black rot - Rhizopus Stolonifer Ehr. ex Fr.

Sclerotium rot - Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.

Thielavia rot - Thieluvia terricola (Gilman & Abbott) Emmons

Trichoderma rot - Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr.

Green mould rot due to Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Wingate is reported

from West Bengal (Mandal. 198 1 ). Gupta et a1 (1 979) reported black mould rot due

to Aspergillus nigrr V. Tiegh. Black rot is reported from West Bengal (Mandal & I. ' ,

Dasgupta, 1980). The causal agent of this disease is Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) ' " '

Moreau. Stylar end rot of ripe guava fruits is caused by Phomopsis spp. The causal

agent is Phomopsis psidii Camara. (Srivastava & Tandon, 1969; Bilgrami et a/, 1979;

Arun, 1988) and P de.structum (Rao, 1976; Bilgrami et al, 1981). Mandal (1981)

reported this disease from West Bengal. Yellow mould rot due to Mucor racemosus

Pres. is recorded from West Bengal (Mandal, 1981).Fruit rot due to Curvularia

lunata (Wakk.) Boed. trorn U.P., fruit rot caused by Helminthosporium atro-

olivaceum Cooke & Harkn. from West Bengal, rot due to Macrophomina

allahahadensrs Kapoor & Tandon from U.P., Meliola psidii Fr. from Gujarat and

Assam, Monrlia sirophikr (IMart.) Sacc. from West Bengal, Pestalotia olivacea Guba

from Havana, rot due to Phyllosficru psidii Tassi., from U.P. and Syncephalasnum

racemosirm Cohn. from West Bengal are other diseases known from India

(Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986).

A. 5. JACKFRUIT (Artocarpus integrifolius Auct.non L.l) ( = A heterophyllus Lamk.)

Fam. Moraceae

Mal. C'hukkupazham

Hindi Ka~hul

Jacktiuit belongs to the family, Moraceae. It is a large tree reaching a height

of 18 to 20 m. The fruits are multiple and are very large, 30 to 60 cm. long and each

weigh 9 to 20 kg. The fruits are borne on the trunk as well as on the branches.

Jacktiuit is suppc~sed to have originated in Western Ghats of India. It is now

chiefly grown in (J.P., Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and A.P. In the south, it is

commonly grown as stray trees in home gardens and also in coffee plantations.

The rlpe fruit is sweet and julcy and is eaten as such. It is used to prepare jams

and jellies. In the West (Coast, "papads' and sweet bread are made out of ripe fruit.

Mature green fruits are used to prepare fried chips. The green fruits and seeds are

used as vegetable. 1 to 2 months old fruits are used to make a vegetable preparation

idichakku thoran (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Various fungal diseases have been reported in Jackfruit

Circinella rot

Circinella rot is a common type of infection in half - ripened to ripened h i t s .

The pathogen C'iri.inellu spinosa V. Tiegh. & Le Monn. enters the host through

wounds. In young fruits infection occurs on the tree itself and is carried subsequently

into the market. The infection is sporadic. The fungus infects the pulp and the fruits

rot (Hesseltine & Fennel, 1955; Rao. 1963, 1964).

Soft rot

It 1s due to Phytophthoru parasitica Dast. has been reported by Rao (1963,

1964) from Poona, Maharashtra. It affects both mature and immature fruits. Another

species P colocasiae Racib em. Thom. & Ramakr. is also responsible for soft rot

(Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986).

Black cottony rot

This disease has been recorded in India from M.P., A.P. and West Bengal

(Neema & Agarwal, 1960: Bilgrami et a / , 1979; Mandal & Dasgupta, 1983). The ripe

as well as over-ripe fruits in markets are affected. The affected fruits emit a strong

fermentative smell. I 'he causal agents are specices of Rhizopus, viz.

R. stolon~fer Ehr. ex Fr and R. arlocarpi Racib. Rao (1963, 1964) reported this

disease caused by R, artocarpi Racib.from Maharashtra. This disease is also known

from A.P. (Manoharachary & Rama Rao, 1989).

Black mould rot

Black mould rot is reported ffom West Bengal (Mandal, 1981). The causal

organism is il.spergil1u.s ~vig:er V. Tiegh., which develop anqwhere on the fruit but

more at the ripening cracks. A Juice leak out from the infected region emitting a bad

smell.

Brown rot

'This is a type of rxpe-rot, where the pathogen enters the host through injuries.

This is a major disease [hat results in serious loss to the vendors as the infection

makes the fruit unfit for salt:, the fruits become ugly and emit foul smell. The fungus

isolated and identified is Diplodiu natalensis Evans that is a highly cosmopolitan

storage pathogen (Rao. 1963). A similar disease caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola

(Taub.) Butl. during rainy season on the popular cultivar of Kerala Muttan varikka is

reported. Both immature arid mature fruits growing near the ground are infected

(Menon er ul, 1979).

Other diseases of' importance are fruit rot caused by Diplodia artocarpi

(Martinez, 1997), Macrophoma sp. (Rao 1963, 1964), Fomes noxius Comer

(Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999) and Alternuria ulternata (Fr.) Keissl. from U.P.

(Mukerji 1G Bhasin, 1986).

A. 6. MANGO (Manglfera indica L.)

Fam. Anacardiaceae

Mal. M u n g ~

Hindi Aum

Mango belongs to the family. Anacardiaceae. The plant is an evergreen tree

and grows up to a height of more than 25 m. Fruit a fleshy drupe, with a thick ' 1-

endocarp. It has one large seed often referred as stone.

Mango is one of the most important and oldest of tropical fruits. it is believed

to have been cultivated for nearly 6000 years. It was originated in southern Asia,

somewhere at the base of' Himalayas, and is widely cultivated in India, Malayasia,

Africa, tropical America, ~ncluding southern Florida and California. So far as India is

concerned, mango is grown extensively particularly in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal,

U.P., Tamil Nadu, A.P., Maharashtra and Punjab and occupies about 60% of the total

area under fruit tree cultivation.

The mature fruits an: harvested when they are still green and hard. The

harvested fruits are properly packed in baskets or wooden crates using pads of straw,

green leaves, wood shavings or wool and then transported to distant places. In order

to hasten ripening of the fruits, they are usually spread out on rice straw in a single

layer. Two or three such layers are made one above another in properly ventilated

rooms. The h i t s are disposed of when they change their colour (Anonymous, 1967).

The ripe mango fruit is perhaps the most important dessert h i t of the tropics.

It possesses a rich aromatic flavour and also a delicious taste, which has both

sweetness and acidity nicely blended. Ripe fruits are used for making jams, jellies,

squashes, murabba etc. The juice extracted from the fruit gained much popularity as

"Mango Fruity". The juice is considered invigorating and refreshing, rich in vitamins

A and C. The unripe fruits are used in the preparation of pickles, chutney, amchur'etc. 7

and also used as a condiment in fish preparations. The unripe fruits are sliced and

dried and also used as a condiment. The unripe fruits of 2 to 4 weeks old are used as

such for the preparation (of pickle "Kannimanga achar". The unripe fruits are rich in

citric, malic, oxalic and certain other acids (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

The numbers of mango varieties are many and each variety has a distinct

taste, flavour and consistency of pulp. Some of the important commercial varieties

grown in different states are

A.P. - Swarnarekha, Banganpalli, Neelam, Sannakulu, Mulgoa,

Nagubapalli.

West Bengal - Krishnabhog, Shadullah, Fazli, Bombai, Gopalhog,

Himsagar. Langra.

Bihar - Bombai, Langra, Gulabkhas, Krishnahog, Sukul, Sinduri,

Taimuria

IJ.P. - Langra, Dasheri, Gulabkhas, Safeda, Gopalhog, Zafran,

Fajri, Taimuria, Bombai, Coorg.

Karnataka - Mundappa, Neelam, Kalepad, Alphonso, Olour,

Fernandin. Peter.

Maharashtra - Alphonso, Cowsji Patel, Jarnadar, Pain

Goa - Alphonso, Femandin, Mankurad, Moussorate

Tamil Nadu - Bangalora, Padiri, Peter, Neelam, Rumani (Sen, 1996;

Pandey, 2001).

Mango fruits are susceptible to several fungal diseases in the pre-harvest and

post harvest periods. The ones reported from India are

Stem end rot

Stem end rot is caused by a group of fungi. Dothiorella dominicana Ell. & Ev.

D. mang~ferue. Phomopsis mangijerar Ahmad., Lasiodiplodiu theobromae (Pat.)

Griff. & Maubl.(=Botro~yodiplodia throhromae Pat.) and Pestalotiopsis sp. are found

as endophytes associated with healthy stem tissue prior to inflorescence emergence.

Mycelia of these fungi colonlse infloresence tissues as it matures and in certain

conditions, reach the stem end of the fruit. Some of the infected emerging fruits abort

and the fruits that escape develop post harvest disease in the market (Johnson et al,

1994).

Powdery mildew

This disease is caused by Oidium mangiferae Berth, a serious disease of

mango, resulting in prernat~lre fall of fruits. Cool nights and warm humid weather

favour the disease (Nair and Menon, 1983).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is found on young leaves, stem and fruits. Black spots are

developed on the skin of the fruit whlch later become discoloured and make the fruits

unfit for sale The causal organism of this disease is Colletolric-hum gloeosporoides

Penz. (Singh el ul, 1963; Anonymous, 1967; Nair & Menon, 1983).

Sooty mould

This disease develops as powdery black sooty mass over large areas of green

fruits, while still on the trees, badly disfiguring them and thus reducing their market

value. The fungus responsible for this disease is Capnodium ramosum Cke. which do

not affect the internal pulp (Rao, 1964; Nair & Menon, 1983).

Black spot

Black spot is also a pre-harvest disease found to originate in the field on green

immature fruits. This disease is also superficial and of common occurrence in

Alfonso variety. The causal agent is Actinodochium jenkinsii Uppal, Patel & Kamat

(Uppal el ul. 1952; Rao 1963, 1964: Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Black rot

This is a typlcal ripe rot in storage. The infection starts mainly at the stalk end

and later spreads over the surface. The causal organism isolated is Aspergillus niger

V. Tiegh. (Verma 6t Kamal. 1951; Rao, 1963, 1964). Wanlapha-Thiraphawa et a1

(1980) reported that this disease is caused by a joined infection of Phomopsis and

Aspergillus nrger V. riegh~.

Brown rot

Brown rot starts i r ~ the majority of cases from the stalk-end and progressing

downwards and decay sets into the pulp below, which becomes discoloured and

disintegrated. This disease is very common and is cosmopolitan in nature. The fungus

responsible for this disease is Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. (Rao, 1963, 1964;

Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986; Patricia er trl, 1995). This disease is also reported from A.P.

(Manoharachary & Rama Rao, 1989).

Ripe rot

This disease is most widespread and destructive and encountered frequently

under storage. The entire fruits decay giving out a foul odour. This disease is

observed only in ripe fruits and absent in green fruits. The causal organism is

identified as ~iloeosporium raciborskii P. Henn. (Kanitkar & Uppal, 1939; Rao, 1962, '." I : ' ' ' ' " -.

1964). 6. mungifirae P. Henn. is known to cause h i t rot in Maharashtra (Mukeji &

Bhasin, 1986).

Pink disease

Pink disease is very common in Kerala during rainy season. The causal agent

is Pelliculur~u salmonicolor (Berk. & Br.) Dast. (syn. Cbrticium salmonicolor

(Berk. & Br.) Dast. (Nail arid Menon, 1983).

Charcoal rot

Th~s disease is caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. has been

reported from U.P. (Biigrami et uf, 1991). Post harvest rot due to Penicillium

fellulanum Biourge from U.P.. Diplodia natalensis Evans, Phomoa sp. and

Cladospnrium herharum (Pers.) Link. have also been reported from Poona,

Maharashtra (Rao, 1963, 1964; Muke j i & Bhasin, 1986).

Brown spot due to Physalospora perseae Doidge is reported from India

(Rangaswarn) & Mahadevan, 1999). Macrophoma mangiferae Syd. is responsible for

corky nosal end rot, reported from Delhi, Bihar and West Bengal (Chakraborty, - I I

1961: Prasad & Sinha, 1979; Mandal, 1981), from Maharashtra (Mukeji & Bhasin,

1986).

Soft rot due to specices of Rhizopus, R. oryrae Went. & Gerling and

R. arrhizus Fischer have been reported from A.P., Punjab and West Bengal

(Laxminarayana & Reddy, 1977; Mandal, 198 1).

Other fungal diseases of minor importance are the rot caused by Phomopsis

mangiferue Ahmad. (Chaweewan Boonroang, 1993). This disease has been recorded

from A.P (Laxminarayma & Reddy, 1975). Rhizoctonia rot caused by R. solani

Kuhn. are reported from A.P. (Manoharachary & Rama Rac~, 1989). Dendritic spot

caused by l>othiorella dotninicana Ell. & Ev. is recorded from Bihar (Mukerji &

Bhasin, 1086 I. Penicillium rot due to P expansum Link., rot due to Botrytis cinerea

Pers., Sirmphylium vr.cicurium (Wallroth) Sinnmon and Mucor circinelloides

V. Tiegh. are known from India (Johnson et al, 1990).

Altrrnuriu specices, A. aliernuta (Fr.) Keissl. and A fennuissima (Nees ex Fr.)

are responsible for fruit rot. Alternuria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. has been recorded from

Maharashtra (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986). A. fennuissima (Nees ex Fr.) is reported by

Mukerji and Battacharya I 1S175) from West Bengal.

Tandon and Srivastava (1974) reported dry rot of mango caused by

Boothiella tetrusporu Lodhi & Mirza. Aspergillus species, viz. A. nidulans (Eidam)

Wint., A.niger V. Tiegh. and A. variecolor (Berk. & Br.) Thorn. & Raper cause fruit

rot in U.P. Rot due to Heridersonula creberrima Syd. & Butl. from Bihar, Pestalotia

versicolor Speg. from M.P., Phytophihoru arecae (Colem.) Pethybridge, Sclerotium

rolfsii Sacc.. fruit spot due to Sphuceloma mangiferae Bitanc. & Jenkins are other

post harvest diseases recor,ded from various parts of India (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986).

A. 7. PAPAY A (Cariea papaya L.)

Fam. Caricaceae

Mal. Pctppuikka i Kappnlanga

Hindi Pupeetu

Papaya belongs to the family, Caricaceae. The plant is a giant herb and may

attain a height of 7.5 m. Both monoecious and dioecious varieties are available. The

fruits are tleshy berries, spherical or cylindrical in shape and yellow to orange in

colour.

Papaya is a native of the West lndies or Mexico and is now widely grown in

India, Malayasia. Sri-L,anka and Hawaii where the plant is commonly cultivated and

considered very important. In India the total area under cultivation of papaya is quite

small, even though its cul1:ivation in the country is widely spread. U.P., Punjab,

Rajasthan, Gujarat. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the principal papaya growing

states.

Picking of fruits is done when they are still hard and green, but there is change

in the colour of the rind. The fruits may be packed in baskets, using a soft padding of

wood shavings. wool or straw.

. , ~. 7 '*.' .i . ;-l

The orange-coloured flesh of the fruit has a sweet taste and i + : ~ p p l l e n t . ~ . ,. . k,,, ~~ .- ' I' , .

breakfast fruit. I t is also used for preparing salads, pies, sherbats and confectioneries.

Unripe fruits are used as vegetable and eaten after they have been cooked. Dried

chips of unripe fruits are used for pickling. The unripe fruits when eaten raw has

medicinal value as it will kill the intestinal worms. The latex contained in the fruits

and other parts of the plant is used in the preparation of chewing-gums and also for

making meat tender and soft. Papain. a digestive ferment, which is one of the

constituents of the latex, is important in medicine and acts on proteins in a manner

similar to pepsin

Some of the important varieties are Washington, Honey Dew (Madhubindu)

Coorg Honey Dew, Singapore, Ceylon and C.O.1 (Improved strain of Ranchi

type)(Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Several pre-and post harvest fungal diseases are reported from papaya.

Phytophthora rot

Phytophthora rot manifests in the root, stem and fruit. Phytophthora

palmivora Butl. infects root, stem, immature and mature fruits. The fungus enters the

host through wounds (Zentmyer & Mitchell, 1985). This disease is reported from

many tropical countries like Hawaii, Australia, Costa Rica and Mexico (Hine et al,

1965). P. cap.tic~ (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby infects ripe fruits in Hawaii (Aragaki &

Uchida, 1978).

Fusarium rot

This is one of the most severe diseases of papaya fruits affecting all stages of

fruit development viz.: green mature, near-ripe and fully-ripe. The fungus destroys

the epidermal and sub-epidemral tissues and gave the fruits an unsightly appearance

consequently impairing h i t quality and marketability (Manalastas & Pordesimo,

1982). Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. is identified as the causal agent. Another

species F. somhucinum Fuck. var. coeruleum Wollenw cause fruit rot in Rajasthan

(Muke j i & Bhasin, 1986).

Ripe rot

This disease originates on the tree itself and cartied in an incepient condition

to the market. The infection occur:; in half-ripened injured fruits. The fungus becomes

active during the npening of the fruits in storage and causes severe type of decay

resulting in ripe-rot mostly initiating infection near the stalk end and over the fruit

with sun scald. The diseased fruits lose their turgidity and firmness and emit foul

decaying odour. The causal agent of ripe rot of papaya is identified as Gloeosporium

papayae P. Henn. (Rao. 196 3 , 1964).

Curvularia rot

Curvularia rot is also a typical ripe-rot causing serious damage during storage.

The causal organism of t h ~ s tiisease isolated and identified as Cuwularia lunafa

(Wakk.) Boed. (Rao, 1963. 1'964).

Soft rot

This disease is found on ripening fruits. The fungus penetrates deeper into the

tissue producing watery rot. Such fruits emit a foul smell. The fungus responsible for

soft rot is Pythium aphanidermatum (Eds.) Fitz. (Rao, 1963, 1964).

Black spot

This disease is caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. which

penetrates deep into the tissue and disintegrate the pulp( Bilgrami et ai, 1991).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose has been recorded from U.P., Bihar, Punjab and elsewhere

(Srivastava et 01, 1964; Prasad & Verma, 1970). This disease appears on ripe fruits.

The causal agents of thls disease are Colletotrichum gloeosporoides Penz.,

C' papayae P. tlenn., C . capsic11 (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby, C. dematium (Pers. ex Fr.),

Gloeosporium tarrcae and C; papayae P. Henn.

Certain other minor diseases are also observed.

Phoma rot originates ,at the stem-end and does not enter deep into the host

tissue, but disfigure the fruits. The causal organism is a species of Phoma (Rao, 1963,

1964). Black rot caused by As,zochyta carrcae Pat. has been noticed from Assam and

Meghalaya (Chowdhury, 1950) Brown crack rot has been recorded from M.P. The

infected fruits become cracked at later stage. The causal organism of this disease is

Ascochyta caricue Pat. (Dhingra & Khare, 1971).

Besides some fungi like Fusarium, Alternaria and Curvularia are found infect

fruits under cold storage (Maharaj, 1990).

Fusurium diversisporum Sherb.. Diplodia papayae Thuem., Sclerotium rolfsii

Sacc. Macrophomincr ph'aseolina (Tassi.) Goid., Ascochyta caricae Pat.,

Colletotrich~rm cup.~ici (Syd.) Butl. and Bisby, C. papayae P. Henn., Rhizopus

nigricans Ehr. ex Fr. and species of Botryodiplodia are also known to cause fruit rot

of papaya (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986; Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999). Oidium

caricae Noack and 0, mrrng,(ferue Berth. infect papaya fruits and result in great

economic loss (Hernandez let 111, 1985).

Tandon and Srivastava (1974) reported pink rot caused by Neurosporu

crassa. Rhizopu.~ slolonifer Ehr. ex Fr. causes watery rot in Uttar Pradesh

(Srivastava & Tandon, 1971). Memnoniellu echinulata (Riv.) Gall. has been reported

from IJ.P. responsible for sunken rot in papaya (Biharilal & Rai, 1978). Fruit rot due

to Phomop.sis caricae - p8apayae Petr. & Ciffeni from Karnataka and Rhizopus

arrhizus Fisher from Rajasthan are also known (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

A. 8. PINEAPPLE (Ananas sativus ( L . ) Merr. & A. comosus Schult.)

Fam. Bromeliaceae

Mal. Kuithuchakku

Hindi Anunu.c

Pineapple belongs to the family Bromeliaceae. The plant is biennial, having a

short stem. I t has a rosette of stiff leaves. Fruit is a large syncarp, which is a multiple

fruit, weigh upto 8 or 9 kg The fruit has a succulent flesh, yellow to light orange in

colour.

Pineapple originated in South America and it is regarded as one of the most

important commercial fruits. It is cultivated in different tropical and sub-tropical parts

of the world. The important pineapple growing countries being Hawaii, Philippines,

India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Mexico, Formosa, Australia, South Africa and Cuba. So far

as India is concerned, the ~ntroduction of the fruit is believed to have been made in

mid-sixteenth century

The area under pineapple cultivation in India is estimated to be 12,000

hectares. It is grown mainly in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, U.P., A.P.,

Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Kamataka of which the first one is the most important.

The harvesting rs done when the eyes of the fruit become full and its colour

turns yello* or deep orange and the bracts wither. At this stage the rind of the fruit is

less angular. The fruit is cut along with a stalk of about 5 cm attached to it.

The ripe fruits are edible and eaten as such. It is also used for making salads,

squashes. jams. jellies and wine. Besides sugar and fruit acids, the pineapple h i t s

contain a digestive ferment, bromelin. Fresh h i t s are a good source of vitamin A, B

and C. Slices of pineapple and pineapple juice are commonly canned both for export

and domestic consumption. Pineapple juice is also used for the manufacture of

alcohol, calcium citrate. citric acid and vinegar.

Important pineapple varieties are Kew, Giant Kew, Mauritius and Queen.

Kew and Giant Kew produce large fruits, about 2.5 to 3.5 kg in weight, which have a

light yellow tlesh, a good flavour and sweet taste. These varieties are ideal for

canning. The other two varieties have smaller fruits, which are juicy and sweet (Sen,

1996; Pandey. 200 1 ).

A few tungul diseases have been recorded earlier.

Ceratocystis rot

Ceratocystis rot manifests on leaves and fruits. On leaf large spots develop

which vary in size and arc: grey with dark margins and later turning olive brown or

white. On the fruits water soaked lesions appear which turn yellowish, then dark.

The tissue becomes soft and soon starts rotting. When the ripened fruits are affected,

the characterist~c odour develops. The fungus invades the tissues through wounds or

cut ends. The causal agent is Ceratocysris paradoxa (Dade.) Moreau. (Mehta, 1940;

Rangaswarny & Mahadevati. 1999).

Black rot

Black rot disease of pineapple is very common and occurs regularly every

year during the summer months in Maharashtra on half-ripe fruits. The infection is

found to be heavy in fruits ~njured during transit or handling. Severely infected fruits

decay and produce a foul c~dour, become black and this discolouration reaches the

central core The fungus responsible for this disease is identified as Thielaviopsis

paradoxa (de Seynes) Hoehn. Ihe anamorphic state of Ceratocysris paradoxa (Dade.)

Moreau. (Rao, 1963, 1964) Black rot due to T. paradoxa (de Seynes) Hoehn. has

been reported from A.P., [J.P., Bihar. Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. (Chowdhury,

1945; Sridhar. 1975: Mandal, 1981). This disease is recorded from Karnataka also

(Mukerji & Hhasin, 1986).

Chocolate rot

Chocolate rot of pineapple fruit has been reported from West Bengal by

Mandal (1981). The disease manifests itself as minute flecks turning into an irregular

to roughly circular chocolate coloured area, on the surface of the fruit. The causal

agent of this disease is identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.

Other post harvest pathogens of pineapple are Phyrophthora parasitica Dast.,

P. palmivora Butl. P. ~i~vnarnomi Rand. and species of Pythium. Pythium sp. causes

rot of unripe fruits also (Mehta, 1940; Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999).

Botryodiplodiu ananassrre (Sacc.) Petr. from U.P., Fusarium solani (Mart.) App.

from M.P. are also know1 (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

A. 9. SANTRA ORANGE (Citrus reticulala Balanco)

Fam. Rutaceae

Mal. Madurunarangu

Hindi Sun~aru

The plant santra clrange belongs to the family Rutaceae. It is a small, bushy,

evergreen tree with small leaves. The tree produces small, round fruits. Bright orange

or scarlet orange rind of the ripe h i t easily separates from the segments.

Santra orange is believed to have originated in China. The plant grows well in

all tropical and sub tropical parts of India. It is cultivated in the country in Khasi,

Jaintia and Lushai hills, I)arjeeling, Sikkim and Tripura in the east, Garhwal, Dehra

Dun, Himachal Pradesh ,and Punjab in the north-west, Nagpur in the centre and

Coorg, Nilgiris and Palni hills in the south.

At the time of pick.ing, the stem is cut quite close to the fruit. taking care not

to damage the rind. After harvesting, the fruits are graded for size and then packed in

wooden crates for marketing.

Fresh fruits are delicious and edible. The juice is used for making squashes,

jams, jellies and salads. The peel is used for making marmalades. The essential oil

obtained tiom the peel is used in confectionary, pharmaceuticals and toilet products.

Some of the important varieties are the Nagpur orange, the khasi orange, the

Coorg orange. Desi Emperor and the Sikkim orange (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

A few fungal diseases have been reported in orange.

Polar rot

Polar rot is the worst disease so far known in sweet orange caused by

Botiyodiplodiu fheohromae !Sacc. This disease has been reported from M.P., U.P.,

West Bengal and Meghalaya (Vasudeva, 1960; Mandal, 198 I).

Phytophthora rot

This disease is responsible for the pre-mature fruit fall. The causal organism is

P, palmivortr Butl. The fungus causes weakening of the stalk and cut off supply of

nutrients to the fruits. The fruits fall off and the rotting emits a foul odour (Kamat,

1927; Uppal & Kamat, 1936). P, colocasiae Racib. em. Thom. & Ramkr. causing

fruit rot and Leaf fa11 is reported from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu

(Mukerji & Hhasin, 1986).

Anthracnose

This disease has been reported from M.P. (Jain et a / , 1981). The causal

organism is (;lomerellu cinguluta (Stonem.) Spauld & Shrenk.

Soft rot

This disease is due to C'eratocy.stisjmbriata Ell. & Halst.The infected fruits

lose colour, the entire h i t turns soft and watery, and emits a rancid odour.

Penicillium rot

Penicillium rot is due to various specices of Penicillium. All citrus fruits

including orange suffer from decay and rotting by the common blue mould,

P. italicurn Wehm. P digitaturn Sacc. produces dirty green fast growing powdery

colonies. The fruits decay and emit strong fermenting alcoholic decaying odour (Rao,

1964). Penicilliurn rot has been reported from M.P. (Ratnam & Nema, 1967), West

Bengal and Meghalaya (Mandal, 1981) Another species P. crustosum Thom. also

cause fruit rot recorded from Punjab (Garcha et al, 1976; Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Other fungal pathogens which infect orange are Diplodia natalensis Evans,

Alternariu cirri (Fr.) Keissl., Collerotrichum gloeosporoides Penz, Phomopsis sp.,

Gloeosporilrm sp. and Rhizoctonia butaticola (Taub.) Butl. They infect the fruit in the

field or in transit and late continue to spread in storage (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan,

1999). Species of Aspergilltrs, A. ac~rleotus Tiz. also cause fruit rot in U.P. (Mukerji

& Bhasin, 1986). Orange fn~its are also infected by Corticium salmonicolor Berk. &

Br. Dast. (syn. Pelliculuria salmonicolor Berk. & Br. Dast.) which produce pink

disease (Reddy. 1968). Ghatak (1938) reported fruit rot due to species of Fusarium.

Candidu krusri (Cast.) Berk. cause fruit rot in Maharashtra and Cladosporium

sphaerospermum Penz. cause soft rot in U.P. Fruit rot due to Geotrichum candidum

Link. ex Pers. from U.P.. Pullulariu pullulans (de Bary) Anaud from Rajasthan,

Rhizopus nigricans Ehr. ex Fr. from M.P. and U.P., felt disease caused by

Sepjobasidium psedopediceNunum Burt. from Assam are other recorded diseases on

this host (Mukerji & Bhasim, 1986). Storage rot due to Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh. is

also reported (Kanaujia, 19'79).

A. 10. SAPOTA (Achras sap010 L.) ( = Manilkara achrus (Mill.) Fosberg.)

Fam. Sapotaceae

Mal. Sapotu

Hindi Chiku

Sapota belongs to the family Sapotaceae. The plant is a large evergreen tree of

about 20 m in height. The fruits are rough brown berries which have a diameter of 5

to 7.5 cm. Sapota is a native of tropical America. It is now commonly cultivated in

West Bengal. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The fruit is eaten when ripe and is much liked for its flesh, which is yellowish

brown in colour and very sweet. It is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins. The milky

juice is known as chicle and iit i,s used in the manufacture of chewing gum.

Some of the popular varieties are the round-fruited Cricket Ball and

Dwaropudi, both common in 'Tamil Nadu, the oval fruited Bangalore and Vavila

valasa, round-fruited Jonnavalasa, the short statwed Kirtabarati and Pot, common in

A.P. In Western India, the oval fruited Kalipatti and Chatri are well known varieties.

In Kamataka, the variety cricket Ball, popular in Tamil Nadu does very well (Sen,

1996; Pandey. 2001).

Fungal diseases reported earlier are

Phytophthora rot

This disease occurs in the pre - mature h i t s as well as in mature fruits. As a

result of th~s disease the premature fruits drop of from the tree. The pathogen

identified is Ph.vtophrhora ,oalmivora Butl. The pathogen infects the pulp as well as

the seeds. This disease ,(was reported for the first time from Bombay, Maharashtra

(Rao rt at, 1962).

Brown pedicel end rot

This d~sease IS one of the most serious rots of sapota in storage and marketing.

The causal organism isolated and identified is Botryodiplodia fheobromae Pat. This

disease has been reported from U.P. (Srivastava et al, 1964; Bilgrami et at, 1979) and

West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta 1982), B. dothedia (Morg. ex Fr.) Ces. & de Not is

known to cause fruit rot in M.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Pimple rot

Thls disease 1s caused by speclces of Pestalotiopsis. Thls fungus is referred to

as a minor pathogen that causes soft rot of the whole fruit. This disease has been

reported from IJ P. (Gupta & Sehgal, 1974) and Rajasthan (Dhingra et al, 1980).

P. mangiferlzr (P. Henn.) Stey. has been reported from M.P. causing pimple rot (Jain

et a / , 1981). Other specices that cause fruit rot are P. versicolor (Speg.) Stey.,

P, glandico/u (Cast.) Stey. and P sapotae P. Henn. reported from A.P.

(Manoharachary & Rama R,ao. 1989).

Black mould rot

This disease occur:; during hot summer on injured and over-ripe fruits

(Mandal & Dasgupta, 198 1 ). The pathogen identified is Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh.

This disease is also reported from A.P. (Manoharachary & Rama Rao, 1989).

Soft rot

Sofi rot is due to h'hi;~opzis nigricuns Ehr. ex Fr. has been reported from

A.P.(Manoharachary & Rama. Rao, 1989). Rao (1964) reported soft rot from

Maharashtra, caused by R. ni,gricans Ehr. ex Fr.

Charcoal rot due lo Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid., rot due to

Pesrulotin giundicolu (Cast.) Stey. from Haryana (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986) are other

post harvest diseases of sapota.

A. 1 I . WA'TER MELON (CitruNus lanatus (Thumb.) Mats. & Nakai & C. vulgaris Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Kummutrikh

Hindi Turbooz

Water melon a native of tropical Africa is a herbaceous tendril climber

producing large, massive f'm~ts with high water content. Two varieties are generally

cultivated, the white variety and purple or black variety. The fruits weigh 2 to 10 kg.

The flesh has a cooling effect and eaten fresh during summer heat. The juice

mixed with sugar is an excellent cool drink.

Improved seedless varieties produced by polyploidy breeding are also

cultivated (Sen. 1996; Pandey, 200 1 ).

The incidences of fungal diseases reported earlier are

Phoma rot

Phoma rot generally starts at the stalk end and proceeds downwards. This

disease is noticed in half-ripened fruits. The infection becomes deep seated, the pulp

decays and disintegrated and renders the fruit unmarketable. The causal organism

identified is Phoma citrullicolr Sawada. This fungus is pathogenic to white variety

only (Rao, 1964j.

Soft rot

This d~sease is of tirld origin often starting the blosson~ end and develops

rapidly in translt and storage under conditions of high humidity. The causal organism

is a phycomycetous fungus, Pythium aphunidermatum (Eds.) Fitz. This fungus infects

the purple variety also (Rao. 1963, 1964)

Charcoal rot

This 1s a common type of infection of watermelon observed in both white and

purple variety. The pulp of the fruits turn dark brown and rot completely. The causal

agent of this disease is Khi.?octoniu hutaticola (Taub.) Butl. (Rao, 1964).

Pink rot

Pink rot is common on white variety and absent in purple variety. The fruits

roti pathogen penetrates deep into the pulp and a viscous liquid oozes out. The causal

agent identified is Trichothecium roseum Link. (syn. Cephalc~thecium roseum Corda.)

(Rao, 1964).

Rhizopus rot

This is a storage disease. The pathogen gains entry into the host through

wounds. The diseased fruits emit a foul smell and ooze out a brown viscous liquid.

This disease is frequent during summer. The pathogen identified is R. nigricans

Ehr.ex Fr. (Rao. 1963. 1964).

Brown rot

Brown rot is due to Alternarra tenuis Auct. which give an ugly appearance to

fruits. Sometimes the pathogen enters deep into the fruit and result in the

disintegration of the pulp (Mathur & Mathur, 1958; Rao, 1963).

Gloeosporium rot

This disease develops in injured fruits and it is a storage rot. A species of

Gloeo.sporium is responsible for this disease (Rao, 1964). Mandal (1981) reported

green mould rot from West Bengal. The causal agent of this disease is Aspergillus

fumigatus 1:res. The injured fruits are susceptible to this disease.

Other pathogens responsible for post harvest decay are Botryodiplodia

rheohromut. Sacc., reported Yrom USA (Walker & Weber, 1931). This disease is also

reported from West Bengal (Mandal, 198 1).

Fruit rot due to ('urvularia lunata (Wakk.) Boed., Sladsporium herbarum

(Pers.) link. and Fusuriurn spp.are reported from Maharashtra (Rao, 1964). Fruit rot

due to Mucrophominu phtrseolinu (Tassi.) Goid. is known from various parts of the

country (Mukerji & Bhasir;~, 1986).

FRUITY

VEGETABLES

. t

.' I

PART - B

POST HARVEST FUNGAL DISEASES OF

FRUITY VEGETABLES

Although all plants arl: vegetables in a technical sense, the word "Vegetable"

generally refers to the different organs of plants such as roots, stems, leaves and fruits

which store reserve food material and are eaten either cooked or raw. The vegetables

are almost indispensable iten1 of human diet and play important role in human

nutrition. The members of this group of plants have originated in different parts of the

world, including India. Vegetables contain large amounts of water, the percentage

vary from 70 to 95 and hence their food value is comparatively low. As source of

carbohydrate. they are next to icereals. Carbohydrates are usually present in the form

of starch and occasionally in the form of sugar and other substances. Besides

carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, vitamins etc., are present in different vegetables.

The presence of indispensable minerals and vitamins are known to increase their

nutritive value. Further the roughages provided by the various plant tissues also help

digestion.

Most of the vegetables are short duration crops and can be grown in

succession on the same plot of land. At present, the production and consumption of

vegetables in lnd~a are qulte inadequate, being only about 25 percent to 35 percent of

the requirements. It is therefore essential to increase their production considerably in

the country. Greater attention should be pa~d to vegetables, not only because most of

them grow quickly, take a short tirne to be ready for harvest and taste good, but also

they supply both basic and accessory nutrients and furnish maximum quantity of food

from the area planted ( Sen. 1990; I'andey, 2001).

Most of the vegetables develop var~ous bacterial and fungal diseases during

transport and storage in the latter cause enormous loss. Rot of vegetables generally

takesplace because of humid conditions of storage and poor ventilation (Kamat et al,

1977; Bilgrami e l al. 1979). This part of the review of literature deals with post

hawest fungal diseases of 23 fruity vegetables which are marketed and consumed in

the state of Kerala.

B. 1. ASH GOURD (Benincasa hkpida (Thunb.) Cogn.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. h'umhulungu

Hindi k-~rmhru' Kundhu

Ash gourd (Brnincu.ra hispidu (Thunb.) Cogn.) is a herbaceous tendril climber

of Indian origin. It is cultivaied in almost all parts of India for its fleshy fruit (pep).

Tendcr as well as mature fruits are used as vegetables. Sweet candy is also

prepared from mature fruits The fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. The fruits

are used in Ayurvedic medicrnes as Khu.rmanda against tuberculosis.

Co-I is an improved variety. Local varieties are also cultivated.

Fruit rot of cucurbits caused by species of Pythium and Phytophthora are

known (Vakalounakis, 1985). Anthracnose of leaf and fruit due to Collectotrichum

lugenarium (Pass.) Ell. & Halsr. is reported from Karnataka. Rhizoctonia bataticola

(Taub.) Butl. is found to be responsible for charcoal rot recorded from U.P. (Mukeji

& Bhasin. 1986).

B.2. BITTER GOURD (Momordica chorantia L.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Pinakku Kuippu

Hindi Kurrlu

Bitter gourd (Momordica charuntiu L.) is said to be a native of the tropical

regions of the Old World. This herbaceous tendril climber is grown mainly for its

fruits which are rich in minerals and vitamins.

The green mature fruits are used as vegetable for the preparation of curries

and pickles. The whole plant is used in native medicines for the treatment of

diabetics.

The improved culti\iated varieties are Pusa Domausumi, Coimbatore white

long. Arka Harit, Kalianpur Baramasi (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Bitter gourd is aftected by a number of post harvest diseases. The important

ones are

Soft rot

This is a major cause of spoilage of fruits during rainy season due to moist

damp conditions. The fungus causing soft rot is identified as Pythium

aphanidermurum (Eds.) I:ite. (Mitra & Subramanian, 1928; Vasudeva, 1963). This

disease is known from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981) and Maharashtra

(Rao, 1966).

Soft watery rot

This is another important disease of bitter gourd which occurs during rains.

The causal organism is Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind. reported from West

Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981, 1982).

Cottony white rot

T h ~ s disease of b~tter gourd is quite common throughout India. The affected

fruits become slimy and are reduced to a pulpy mass. The causal agents are specices

of F~rsarium viz., F. rqiri.reil (Corda.) Sacc., F. oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et

Hans.and F .sol(mi f. sp. i zicurhilurum (Mart.) Sacc. This is known from Maharashtra < >

(Rao. 1966). West Bengal, (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1980) and U.P. (Tandon & Varma, -. f '

1964).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a well-known pre-harvest disease of the crop caused by

(bllrc/otric~hum lagrnurium (Pass) Ell. & Halst. The pathogen is also known to cause

post hanest disease during, storage in Karnataka (Prakash & Singh, 1977) and

Maharashtra (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Other minor diseases of bitter gourd reported are fuzzy yellowish rot caused

by Mucor hirmrr1i.s Wehm., dirty grey rot caused by Rhizoctoniu solani Kuhn. and

grey white rot caused b y Sclerotium roljsii Sacc. These are reported from West

Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981 ). Sclerotium rot is known from Maharashtra

(Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986). Singh (1975) reported fruit rot due to Macrophomina

phasrolinrr(Maubl.)Ashby. Black rot due to Alternuria tenuissima

(Kunze. ex Pers.) Wilt. and fruit rot by Myrothecium roridum Tode. ex Fr. from U.P.

are also reported (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B.3. BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria (MOI.) ~ t a n d ~ . )

( := L. I .ulguris Seringe)

Farn. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. C'hrrrtrkka

Hindi Luuki t ihiu Kudd~r

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria sirrruriu (Mol.) Standl.) is grown in India for its

fleshy fruits that are used as vegetables. Definite information regarding the origin of

bottle gourd is not yet available. The plant is found all over the tropics and sub -

tropics of both the hemispheres.

Immature tender h i t s are used as vegetable. The fruits are rich in

carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Different varieties differ in their size and

shape. Elongated. oval and bottle shaped varieties are cultivated. The pericarp of

bottle shaped variety when dried is used as bottle by toddy tapers. The dried pericarp

of oval variety is used in the making of musical instrument. It has medicinal

properties also, liuit pulp is cooling diuretic and antibilious. Seeds are used in dropsy, 1

as antihelminthic and seed oil is used for headache (Pandey, 1978).

Some improved varleties developed in bottle gourd are Pusa Summer Prolific

Long, Pusa Summer Prolific Round, Pusa Meghdut, Pusa Manjari. VaNichura and

Kudukkachurtr are the two var.ieties grown in Kerala (Anujan, 1979).

Bottle gourd is susceptible to some fungal diseases during storage and transit.

Diplodia rot

Diplodia rot starts from the stigma - end and proceeds upwards clearly

indicating the origin of the infection from the field when these fruits come in direct

contact with the soil. This disease is also observed in storage. The internal pulp of the

fruit becomes spongy and ultimately decays with brownish discolouration. The

fungus causing this disease is the well-known Diplodia nutalensis Evans (Rao, 1964).

This disease is also recorded from A.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Anthracnose

T h ~ s d~sease appears to be of field origin and subsequently carried over into

the market through transit. The fungus responsible for anthracnose is identified as

Colletolrich~rm lapnurium (Pass.) f<II. ex Halst. (Mundkur, 1937; Rao, 1964;

Bilgrami el ul. 1979. 1981 ).

Cottony rot

Cottony rot is a serious storage rot caused by specices of Fusarium such as

F. concolor Rg.. I.: equisc-ti (Corda.) Sacc. and F. .semitectum Berk. & Rav. reported

from Bihar. I.' eqrrisrti tCorda.) Sacc. from Haryana, F. Solani (Mart.) App. &

Wollew from Punjab (Singh & Chohan, 1980; Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Soft rot

Pyrhium uphanider~mi~tum (Eds.) Fitz., a common soil fungi is known to cause

this disease under warm vvet condition (Mitra & Subramanian, 1928; Babu Singh &

Karan Singh, 1953; Vasudeva, 1963).

Other diseases of minor importance are brown rot due to Allernaria alternata

(Fr.) Keissl.. grey mould rot due to .4.sprrgillu.s fumigatus Fr. and black spot due to

C'urvrrluric~ ovoidru Hiroe & Watman Muntanola and creepy cottony rot due to

Sclerotirtm roll.iii Sacc. reported from Punjab (Singh & Chohan, 1980). Creepy

cottony rot was also reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Rot due to Rhizopus

nigricuns Ehr. ex Fr., Asporgillus niger V. Tiegh. and Cladosporium herbarum

(Pers.) Link. ex Fr. are recorded from U.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Fam. Moraceae

Mal. Kuduchhukku /Sc8emachhak!ur

Breadfruit (Artocurvprrs commrrnis Frost.) is a medium sized tree reaches up to

40 to 60 m in height producing melon-sized prickly fruits. Illey may be produced

singly or in groups. It is a native of Malaya and Pacific Islands, and is grown in the

eastern and western coasts of India. It grows abundantly in L.accadeev Islands. The

mature fruits are used as vegetable and eaten cooked. It is boiled, roasted, fried or

ground up and used for bread. The ripe fruits are unpalatable. Two varieties of

breadfruit arc grown in South India. the rough-skinned and smooth-skinned (Sen,

1996).

The fungal disease of breadfruit hitherto reported is Phytophthora rot. This

disease has been reported from the Caroline Island in the Pacific, particularly from

the island of I'onape. The fniits become completely rotted and then mummify on the

tree. The causal agent is P. palmivoru Butl. (Trujillo, 1960). This disease is also

known to occur in Kerala (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B.5. BRlNJAL (Solanum melongena L.)

Fam. Solanaceae

Mal. V~zzhurhunungu

Hindi Buingun

Brinjal (Solanurn mek~ngena I..) is a herbaceous annual with erect or semi-

spreading habit. Fruit a berry, borne singly or in clusters. The fruits are harvested

when it attains full size, but before it is fully ripe.

Brinjal is believed to be a native of India, its secondw centre of origin being

China. It is cultivated throughout India and is used for preparation of different

delicious dishes. Brinjal is an important vegetable for the people living in the plains

and it is available more or less throughout the year. White variety is supposed to have

medicinal properties and included in the diet of diabetics.

Different varieties are cultivated in different parts of the country. They are

grown mainly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar, Punjab, U.P. and

Delhi. Purple long. Purple round, White long, White round, Green Long and Green

round are the different varierie!;.

Several ~mproved varieties are produced by IARI, Delhi. Pusa Purple Long,

Pusa Purple Cluster, Pusa Kranti, Pusa Anmol, I HR-22-1-2-1, Arka Kusumakar,

Arka Shirish. Arka Sheel, T I to T 4, Benaras Giant, Black Beauty, Muktakeshi, ST-1

and ST-2. P-8 and P-34, Wyanad Giant, Gudiyatham, Surti Gota, Manjiri Gota are

improved varletles (Sen. 1996; Pandey, 200 1 ).

This fixity vegetable is affected by many fungal diseases during storage and

transit.

Phytophthora rot

This is a very common disease during rainy season. The affected fruits emit a

peculiar stinking odour. The causal organism identified is P. parasitica Dast. (Rao,

1964; Cabaccang ct ul, 1965).

Soft rot

Soft rot is commorl i n long-stored brinjals in ill-ventilated damp storage

places. The pathogen identified, is Pjdhi~rm aphanidermatum (Eds.) Fitz. (Rao, 1964).

Pink rot

This is a very common storage disease known from Maharashtra caused by

Trichoihrcium rosrum Link. ex: Fr. which enters the host through injuries and wounds

(Rao, 1964).

Rhizopus rot

This is one of the dangerous diseases of brinjal both in the field and in storage

reported from different parts of India. From West Bengal, rot due to R. stolonifer

(Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind. is reported (Bilgrami cr al, 1979, 1981; Mandal, 1981). This

disease is noticed in Haryana and Delhi (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986). Fruit rot due to

R. nodostcs Namyslowski is known from Madhya Pradesh (Vyas et al, 1978).

R. o w e Went. & Gerling i:r responsible for this disease in M.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin,

1986).

Alternaria rot

Altemaria rot is common during rainy as well as cold season. This disease is

frequent on white varieties 'ind much less so in long purple or black varieties. The

causal organism 1s A trnur,; Piuct. (Rao. 1964). Fruit rot due to A. alrernata (Fr.)

Keissl. is also known from Kuwait (Abdel Rahim, 1988). A pre-harvest fruit rot due

to A melongenae Rang. and Samb. is also known in India (Delhi and Tamil Nadu).

The fruits turn yellow ancl drop off prematurely (Kapoor & Hingorani, 1958;

Vasudeva, 1963)

Phomopsis rot

Phomopsis rot is known from Gujarat since 1914 (Pawar & Patel, 1957;

Vasudeva, 1963). The causal agent of this disease is P, vexans (Sacc. & Syd.) Harter.

(Bilgrami t,r ul. 1979. 1981). Rao (1964) reported this disease from Poona,

Maharashtra.

Black mould rot

This disease is due to Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh. is a major disease of brinjal

and has been recorded from U.P. (Khanna & Chandra, 1975) and West Bengal

(Mandal, 1 98 1 ).

Besides these diseases. bringal is also known to be affected by the following

diseases too. This includes wet rot due to ('hoanephora cucurhitarum Berk. & Rav.

from U.P. and West Bengal (Dublish & Singh, 1976; Bilgrami el al, 1979; Mandal,

1981). Yellow rot due to C'hryso.sporium pruinosum (Gilman & Abbot) Carmichael

from Haryana (Dhingra d;: Mehrotra. 1980) and fruit scab due to Cladosporium

Imuissimtm Cooke from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1978). A severe storage

rot of brinjal is known from, Maharashtra due to the joint infection of specices of

Fusarium and (;loeo.sparium. Fruit spot due to Sclerotinia sp. is known from Kuwait

(Abdel Rahim. 1988). Fruit spot due to A.scochyta lycopersici B r u ~ . is recorded

from H.P. and West Bengal. Clado.uporium ,fulvum Cooke from U.P., Collelobichum

capsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby from Bihar, Tamil Nadu, U.P., Punjab, Maharashtra,

Kamataka and Delhi. C'orj,nesporcr cnssicola (Berk. & Curt.) Wei. from A.P., M.P.,

Delhi, Laccadeev. Epicoccum' nigrum Link. from Assam and U.P., Fusarium equiseti

(Corda) Sacc. var. hutl'arum (Scherb.) Wr. from Tamil Nadu and M.P.,

Macrophomintr phu.seolin~~ (Tassi. ) Goid. are also known from India (Mukeji &

Bhasin. 1986).

B.6. CHILLI (Capsicunr annuum 1.. & C. frutescens L.)

Fam. Solanaceae

Mal. Mulagu

Hindi Lul mirch

The common chilli belongs to the family, Solanaceae. The plant chilli is an

annual herb, stems erect to spreading in habit and vary from 35-80 cm in height.

Capsicum (sweet pepper) is perennial in habit and clearly distinguishable

from chilli vaneties due tcl its mildly pungent or non-pungent liuits. Fruits are bigger

in size and are like a bell.

Chilli and capsicum are known from pre-historic times and are believed to

have originated in tropical America or in the West Indies. They have probably been

introduced in India in the 17" century by the Portuguese. Chilli is grown in the plains

almost throughout India and capsicum on the other hand, at a little higher elevation,

where the climate is relatively mild. The fruits of both chilli and capsicum are

commonly consumed throughout the country.

Chill~es are used as a condiment, either green or dry, in all preparations of

vegetables, fish and meat. 'I hey are believed to be a rich source of vitamins (A and C)

and are also used medicinally. The pungency of chilli is due to the presence of the

active principle cupsaicin, which is contained in the skin and the septa of the fruit.

Of the total area of' cultivation (7, 33, 800 hectares) about 75 percent is

concentrated in the states of A.P., Maharashtra, Kamataka and Tamil Nadu. India

stood first in the production of chilli. In Kerala it is cultivated in Palakkad,

Kozhikkode and Kannoor.

Some of the improved varieties recommended for general cultivation are NP-

41, NP-46A. Hybrid 5-1-5, NP-51, World Beater, Bell pepper, R-449, California

wondor, Yolo wondor, G-I. G-2, G-3. ti-4, ti-5 etc. (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

CAPSICUM / SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum var. grossum L.)

Fruits square, smooth, heavy, thick, deep glossy and green. Flesh very thick,

sweet and tine tlavoured, bright scarlet when mature. This is a non - pungent variety.

Several varieties of capsicum hiwe been successfully grown at IAN, New Delhi and

CFTRI Mysore.

Several diseases are reported from the pungent as well as sweet varieties from

various parts of the country.

Alternaria rot

This disease is very severe during monsoon. The causal agent is Alternaria

trnzris Auct. and the infection is heavy especially in long stored fruits of punjent

varieties (Mathur & Agnihotri, 1961: Mridha & Siddique, 1989). This disease is

known from Delhi (Ilutt. 1037), Maharashtra (Rao, 1966), 1J.P. (Srivastava et al,

1964), West Bengal and Evleghalaya (Mandal, 198 1). Another species of Alternaria

viz. Alterntrritr soluni (Ell. & Mart.) Jones & Grout. also cause this disease (Mukerji

& Bhasin, 1986).

Phytophthora rot

This is typically a storage rot noticed in punjent varieties and absent in sweet

big varieties. 'I'wo speciccs of Phy[oph/hora are reported to cause this disease viz.

P. paru.sitic,cr Ilast. (Rao 1064) and P, nicotiunae B. de Hann. var. nicolianae Waterh.

(Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a pre - harvest as well as post harvest disease of chilli fruits.

The causal agent is specict:~ of Colle/o/richum. Anthracnose due to C. capsici (Syd.)

Butl. & Bisby is a severe disease in South India. The infected immature fruits drop of

prematurely The fungus rnay also infect ripe fruits and the fruit stalk (Bansal &

Grover 1969: Sohi. 1982: Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999). Rai and Chouhan

(1966) reported this disease i h m Punjab. Fruit rot due to C capsici (Syd.) Butl. &

Bisby and ('. g1oro.sporoide.s Penz. in immature and ripe red fruits are also known

(Manandhar et ul. 1995). R.ao (1964) reported this disease from Poona, Maharashtra.

Anthracnose is also reported from abroad, from Peninsular Malayasia, the causal

agent is ('. ~.upsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby (Mah, 1985). From Bangladesh,

C,'. gloeosporoidrs Penz. and L: cupsici Butl. & Bisby are reported (Basak el al,

1989). C7. prpertrrum (Ell. & Ev.) Ell. & Halst. is known from Punjab (Mukeji &

Bhasin, 1986).

Ripe rot

This is a common storage malady caused by Gloeo.~porium piperatum Ell. &

Ev. (Rao, 1964).

Black rot

Black rot is characterized by the appearance of dark-brown to dirty-black,

small, irregular necrotic lrsions over the fruits. The causal agent is Rhizocronia

haruricolu ('Iaub.) Butl. (Rao. 1964).

Cuwularia rot

l'his disease is more common on sweet varieties. The infected area becomes

black. The causal agent is Curvtrluria lunata (Wakk.)Boed. reported from Poona,

Maharashtra (Rao,i964). This disease also caused by C, ovoidea (Hiroe & Watan.)

Muntannola known from Iy.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Diplodia rot

This disease is due to a species of Diplodia, found only in sweet varieties of

chilli and absent in punjent varieties. The diseased fruits become yellow and rot with

ooze of brownish liquid (Rao, 1964).

Phoma rot

T h ~ s d~sease is very common in long-stored chilli fruits especially sweet and

punjent variettes which are highly susceptible to this disease. The infected fruits ooze

out a brownish viscous fluid. The causal organism is P. capsici Magn. known from

Maharashtra for the first time (Rao. 1964).This disease is also reported from U.P.

(Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986 1.

Soft rot

Soft rot is a common disease caused by Fusarium specices in India (Bilgrarni

er al, 1979. 198 1 : Mandal &. Dasgupta, 1982 ). F. oxysporum ~(Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd.

et Hans.. I.'..roluni (Mart.) Sacc., F diver.sisporum Scherb. and F semitectum Berk &

Rav. are known to cause soft rot from different regions of the country.

Other diseases at' minor importance are brown rot due to Ceratocytis

puradoxa (Ilade) Moreau. reported from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1978),

fruit rot due to C'hurtomium gloho.ssum Kunze. ex Fr. from U.P., rot due to

C'hoanephora cucurhiturum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxt. from Maharashha, U.P., and

Delhi, C'ludosporium ox.vsporum Berk. & Curt. from Rajasthan, Corynespora

cassicolu (Berk & Curt.) Wei. from A.P., Drechslera tetramera (Mc Kinney)

Subram. & Jain from hdaharashtra. Glomerella cingulata (Stonem.) Spauld. &

Schrenk. from Bihar. .Flelminthosporiurn capsicicola Rao from Maharashtra,

Pesta1olio)psi.s palmarum (Cooke) Stey. from Tamil Nadu, Pythium debaryanum

Hess. and Rhizopu.~ nigri~ans Ehr. ex Fr. (= R. stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind.) from

U.P. and 'iclrrotium ro(fiii Sacc. in Maharashtra (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Following fungal pathoge~ns have been isolated and identified by Basak el a1 (1989)

. . from the maior chilli erawine districts n f RnnollAerh .,;-, ~lt,.,,,-;-

This disease is more common on sweet varieties. The infected area becomes

black. The causal agent is Curvrrluria lunara (Wakk.)Boed. reported from Poona,

Maharashtra (Rao.1964) This disease also caused by C ovoidea (Hiroe & Watan.)

Muntannola known from I:.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Diplodia rot

This disease is due to a species of Diplodia, found only in sweet varieties of

chilli and absent in punjent varieties. The diseased fruits become yellow and rot with

ooze of brownish liquid (Rao, 1964).

Phoma rot

This disease is very common in long-stored chilli fruits especially sweet and

punjent varieties which are highly susceptible to this disease. The infected fruits ooze

out a brownish viscous fluid. The causal organism is P. capsici Magn. known from

Maharashtra for the first time (Rao. 1964).This disease is also reported from U.P.

(Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986 1.

Soft rot

Soft rot is a common disease caused by Fusarium specices in India (Bilgrami

et al, 1979. 198 1 : Mandal &. Dasgupta, 1982 ). F. oxysporum ~(Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd.

et Hans.. f'.soluni (Mart.) Sacc., F diversisporum Scherb. and F. semitectum Berk &

Rav. are known to cause soft rot from different regions of the country.

Other diseases of' minor importance are brown rot due to Ceratocylis

puradoxa (Ilade) Moreau. reported from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1978),

fruit rot due to C'hartomium glohoss~rm Kunze. ex Fr. from U.P., rot due to

C'hoanephora cucurhiturum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxt. from Maharashha, U.P., and

Delhi, ('kudosporium o>y.b~orum Berk. & Curt. from Rajasthan, Corynespora

cassrcolu (Berk & Curt ) Wei. from A.P., Drechslera fe~ramera (Mc Kinney)

Subram. & Jain from Maharashtra. Glomerella cingulala (Stonem.) Spauld. &

Schrenk. horn Bihar. .Helmintho.sporium capsicicola Rao from Maharashha,

Pestc11o1iopsi.s pulmarzrm (Cooke) Stey. from Tamil Nadu, Pythium debaryanum

Hess. and Rhiiopu.~ nigricarts Ehr. ex Fr. (= R. stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind.) from

U.P. and .'iclrro/ium ro(fiii Sacc. in Maharashtra (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Following fungal pathoge~ns have been isolated and identified by Basak et a/ (1989)

B.8. CLUSTER BEAN (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (L . ) Taub.)

( = ('. psoraloides D.C.)

Farn. Fabaceae

Mal. Kothumurcr pu)Jsrr

Hindi (iuur , (;~m,ar

Cluster bean is a bush type annual herb. Certain varieties have single stem, on

which the fruits are borne in clusters.

Definite intormation about the area of origin of cluster bean is not available. It

has however. been growl for a very long time in India, Africa, Peru and Java. It is a

very hardy crop and does well in the plains in the tropics. So far as India is

concerned, cluster bean is quite common in the northern plains. A fairly large area is

now put under the crop in the plains of South India also. The pod is primarily used as

a vegetable.

The varieties recommended by IARI are Pusa Sadabahar, Pusa Mausami and

Pusa Naubahar (Sen. 1996; Pandey. 2001 ).

Important diseases reported from cluster beans are

Anthracnose

T h ~ s disease produces dirty brown colour on pods and reduce the nutritive as

well as market and storage value. The causal agent of this disease is Colletorrichum

capsicr (Syd ) Butl & f3isby var. cyamopsicola Desai & Prasad (Konda Rao & '

Koteshwar Rao. 1962. Rao. 1964)

Fusarium rot

This disease is caused by a species of Fusarium, which is a wound parasite

gaining entry through injuries or bruises that develop during handling and transport of

the produce (Rao, 1964).

Black mould rot due to Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh. from West Bengal

(Mandal & Dasgupta, 1983). charcoal rot due to Macrophominaphuseolina (Tassi.)

Goid. from Punjab, Delhi and U.P. and rot caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.)

Butl. from Tamil Nadu (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986) are other fungal diseases reported

from this tiuity vegetable.

B.9. COW PEA (Vigna sinensis Endl.)

( = C: ~rnguicululu (L.)Walp.)

Fam. Fabaceae

Mal. Achingtr pryur

Hindi Lohiu

Cowpea is probably a native of central Africa though it has been grown in

South-Eastem Asia for more than 2,000 years. It has since been introduced into the

tropics and sub-tropics of both the hemispheres. The crop is grown throughout India,

particularly In the central and peninsular regions. However, it is cultivated on a

limited scale

Cowpea (Vigi~u .sinensis Endl.) is a vigorously growing annual, bearing

numerous horizontally spreading laterals. Stems are prostrate. More or less erect

varieties also occur. Pods are picked for vegetable in two months or even less. The

young pods and seeds are consumed as vegetable and the dry seeds as pulse. The new

improved varieties which mature early are Pusa Falguni, RC - 19 and V - 240. They

are regarded as more or less cosmopolitan. Other varieties suitable for different states

are Gomati far Bihar, 'I'ype:s 2 and 5269 for U.P., JC 10 for Rajasthan, No. 74 for

Punjab, CO-3 and CO- 4 ibr Tamil Nadu, K-i 1 for M.P., S - 488 for Karnataka Type

5269 for West Bengal (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

The fungal diseases r~sported in cowpea are

Anthracnose

This disease is considered to be a serious disease of pods arriving into the

market. The causal organism1 of this disease is Colletotrichum specices, viz.

C. lindemuthi~rnrrm (Sacc. & Magn.) Bri. & Cav. and C. capsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby

(Rao, 1964). Anthracnose is also known as a pre harvest disease of leaves as well as

pods (Nair & Menon. 1983). This disease is known from Maharashtra, U.P. and

Punjab (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1086).

Phoma rot

This disease is due to P. vignue P. Henn. reported from Poona, Maharashtra

(Rao. 1964). Rot due to P. vignue is also reported from U.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin,

1986).

Cottony pink rot

Cottony pink rot is a quite commonly observed disease in the markets of West

Bengal state (Mandal &. Ilasgupta. 1981). The causal agent of this disease is

Fu.surizrm moniliforme S'held.

Other fungal disea:ses: are snuffy mould rot due to Aspergillus aculeatus Tiz.

and cottony leak due to Pythium hurleri Subram. reported from West Bengal

(Mandal & Dasgupta. 198!). Pod rot caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. &

Rav.) Thaxt. is known from Kerala (Wilson & Joshi, 1968). Charcoal rot due to

Macrophomino phaseolin~r (Tassi.) Goid. is reported from M.P., U.P., Delhi and

Halyana (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B. 10. CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. C'ellurikka

Hindi Khiru

This cucurbitaceour; fruit is mainly used as a vegetable, is rich in

carbohydrates and vitamins. Fruits are eaten raw as well as cooked and used as salad.

One variety is used with a religious fervour during the festival 'Vishu', and popularly

known as kani l,eilurikkcr, In Kerala. I t is considered as a nalive of India. These

varieties are cultivated in almost all states of India. The cultivated varieties are

Japanese Long Cireen, Straight Eight, China Balam, Khira Poona (Sen, 1996; Pandey,

2001).

The fungal diseases reported earlier are

Soft rot

This is a common po?,t harvest disease of cucumber. The diseased fruits give

out a slimy viscous brown liq~uicl from the rotted tissue. The causal agent is identified

as Pythitrm uphanidermcrtrrm (Etds.) Fitz. (Mitra & Subramanian, 1928; Rao, 1964).

Another species P hlrtlcri Subramis also known to cause soft rot from India

(Mandal & Dasgupta. 198 1).

Fusarium rot

Fusarium rot of cucumber is reported from Poona, Maharashtra, casued by

F. ro.Fetrm Link. (Rao. 1964). Mandal & Dasgupta (1981) reported this disease from

West Bengal but the causal agent is F. monilfirme Sheld.

Cucumber scab

hi. s IS ' . a serious disease of cucumber in North Western Europe, Maine to

Wisconsin and adjoining areas of Canada caused by Cladosl,orium cucumerianum

Ell. & Arth. (Ruhrn & Hae s, 1959).

Anthracnose

This disease is very common during monsoon and winter seasons and is

caused by ('olletotrichirm i'agenarium (Pass.) Ell. & Halst. (Mundkur, 1937; Bussch

& Walker, 1958; Rao. 1964). Anthracnose due to other specices of CoNefofrichum

are C. cup.vrci (Syd.) Butl. &. Bisby from A.P. and C. orbiculare (Berk. & Mont.)

V. Am. from Assam (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Rot due to <'trrvtrl(rrria pullescens Boed., Drechslera hawaiiensis (Buign.)

Subram. & .lain, Myro~heclum roridum Tode. Ex Fr.and Rhizocfonia solani Kuhn.

are known from A.P. Charcoal rot due to Macrophominaphaseolina (Tassi.) Goid.

from Punjab. S,nchyfrium Iugenariur Mahatre and Mund. and S. wuthii Ryz. from

U.P., black rot due to Thiela~~iopsis paradoxa (de Seynes.) Hoehn. from

Maharashtra. rot due to ,$Iternaria alfernnta (Fr.) Keissl. (= A. tenuis Nees.) are

other diseases reported from India (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B. 1 1. DRllM STICK (Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.)

Fam. Moringaceae

Mal. Murrghokka

Hindi Sahlun Sunjunu

Drumstick tree (iWoringa pterygosperma Gaertn.) of Moringaceae is

cultivated in sub - Himalayan tract. (J.P. and other parts of the country especially in

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The fruits of this metlium sized tree are rich in iron and other minerals. The

unripe fruits are used as vegelable (Sen, 1996; Pandey. 2001).

Two important post harvest diseases are reported in India, one due to

Fusarium crctrmlnatum [ill. & Ev. and the other due to Rhizopus oryzae Went. &

Gerling (Mandal & Dasgupta. 1978).

B.12. FRENCH BEAN 1 COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Mal. Beuns

Hindi liluyuti sem

French bean is an annual herb or vine, stems slender, erect and dwarf in the

"bush" types, or with long internodes and climbing habit in the "pole" types. Pods

slender, 10 to 20 cm long, straight or slightly curved, the sides convex or rounded, the

surface glabrous or faintly pubescent with a prominent beak.

The French bean or common bean is of ancient origin and is believed to be a

native of South America. The green unripe pods are used as vegetable. The dried

seeds are used as pulse.

The varieties cultivated are Giant Stringless, Kentucky Wondor, Contender,

Pusa Parvati. .lampa and 'I'sentfer Green (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

The fungal disease:; of common bean are

Anthracnose

This disease is due to Colle/o/richurn lindemuthianum (:Sacc. & Magn.) Bri.&

Cav. which inkct the pod and the seeds producing dirty brown discolouration (Rao,

1964; Nair & Menon, 1983; Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999).This disease is

known from U.P. , Tamil hladu, M.P. and Delhi (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Cottony leak

Cotton1 leak is a very common disease due to Phytophthora parasitica Dast.

mostly dur~ng rainy season. The infection is favoured by damp and cool weather

(Venkatakr~shnaiah. 19580; Rao, 1 963). Two other Phytophthora specices,

P, irriluhilir Mantri and Desh. and P. ruhra Mantri and Desh. responsible for pod rot

are also reported from Aurangabad (Mantri & Deshpande, 1966).

Other fungal diseases are leaf and pod spot due to Allernaria alternata (Fr.)

Keissl. reported from Poona. Maharashtra (Rao & Alaka Pande, 1992), pod rot due to

Arthrinrum phtreospermufit Khan & Sulia var. indicum var. nov. reported from

Bangalore, Karnataka (Khan & Sulia. 1980) and pod rot due to Mortierella shiospora

Desh.and Mantri reported from Aurangabad (Deshpande & Mantri, 1965).

B.13. INDIAN GO0SE:BERRY (Emblica of/icinale Gaertn.) ( = Phyllanthus emblica L. )

Fam. Euphorbiaceae

Mal. Nrllikku

Hindi Amlu ' Aunolu

Indian gooseberry is a medium-sized deciduous tree belonging to the family

Euphorbiaceae.

The fruits are rich in vitamin C and minerals. Fruits have valuable medicinal

properties. It is used in pickling, eaten raw and used in the preparation of wine, syrup,

paste etc. It is a major component of chyavanaprash, an ayuwedic preparation.

The fruits on storage are affected by the following diseases

Brown rot

Brown rot is a serious disease of goosebeny caused by Aspergillus niger

V. Tiegh. in Maharashtra. Specices of Penirillium and Fusarium cause fruit rot under

storage conditions (Setty. 1959; Rao, 1964). Penicillium oxaliclrm Cume. & Thom. is

known to cause fruit rot in M.P., Delhi and Maharashtra. Rot due to Pestalotia

cruentu Syd. is another disease reported from U.P. (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986).

Fruit blemish

This is the most severe disease found on young fruits which give a rusty

appearance making them unfit for the market. The infection is superficial and did not

penetrate deep into the tlssue. The causal organism is a rust fungus Ravenelia

emblicur Syd. (Rao, 1964).

B.14. LADY'S F1NGE:R 1 OKRA (Abelmosehus esculentus (L.) Moench.) ( = H ' rhrscous . esculentus L.)

Fam. Malvaceae

Mal. I 'endukku

Hindi Bhindr

This stout annual herb believed to have originated in tropical Africa. It is an

important vegetable crop commonly cultivated for its immature fruits. The crop is

grown in the plains of almost all the states of India and also in some hills and its fruits

are cooked and consumed by the people all over the country.

It contains vitamin A, B, C and a small quantity of iron. The tender h i t s are

used as vegetable, whereas mature fruits and stems, which contain crude fibres are

used in the paper industry.

Some of the improved varieties commonly grown are Pusa Makhmali, Pusa

Sawani. Red Bhindi, IHK 20-31. Perkin's Long Green (for hills only)(Sen, 1996;

Pandey. 2001 ).

The fungal diseases reported from India are

Brown rot

This disease penetrates deep into the skin of the fruit, causing discolouration

of the internal tissue which becomes dark-brown, fibrous, decays and emit a foul

smell. I t is a storage disease of young h i t s in the markets and is caused by a species

of Fuscrrium (Rao. 1964). Fusarium oxysporum (Schl. ex FT.) em. Snyd. et Hans.

from Maharashtra and F xcirpi Lamb, et Fautr. from U.P. are the specices reported to

cause this disease in India (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Phytophthora rot

Fruit rot due to Phytophthoru palmivora Butl. and anthracnose due to

(blletotrichum sp. are also reported in lady's finger (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan,

1999). (~', c.apsici (Syd.) 13utl. & Bisby from Karnataka, C. hihisci Poll. from West

Bengal are also known (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Pythium rot

This disease is known from Parbhani by Datar (1988). P.aphanidermatum

(Eds.) Fitz. is isolated from the diseased fruits and he confirmed the pathogenicity of

the fungus experimenta1l:i. .P. indicum Balakr. is known to cause fruit rot in Tamil

Nadu (Muherj~ & Rhasin, 1986).

Cottony leak

Cottony leak is the most serious disease of lady's finger prevalent in West

Bengal dur~ng the rainy season. The causal agent is Pyihium hufleri Subram. (Mandal

& Dasgupta. 198 1 ).

Grey blight rot

This disease is also reported from West Bengal (Mandal, 1981). The pathogen

identified is Sclrrotium rolfsii Sacc.

Dry rot due to Aspergi1lu.s Jlui~us Link. ex Fr. is reported from M.P. (Jain et

01. 1982). Rot due to C'hownrphora cucurhitarum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxt. from Delhi

and U.P., ('ludo.sporrum sp. from J . & K., Helminthosporium nodulosum (Berk. &

Curt.) Sacc. from IJ.P., Macwophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. from Delhi and

Gujarat are also known (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B. 15. LIMA BEAN (Phaseolus lunatus L.)

Fam. Fabaceae

Mal. Amciru payor

Hindi Linu hrun

It is a herbaceous tw~ning annual grown for their tender fiuits which are used

as vegetables. I t is a rich source of protein.

Fungal diseases reported earlier are

Anthracnose

This disease is caused by ('olletotrlchum capsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby, the

pods become ugly in appearance and lose their market value and finally rot (Rao,

1964).

Diplodia dry rot

This disease is found in the form of bleaching of the skin and development of

brownish to buff coloured 1e:;ions on any part of the pods. The causal organism is

Diplodiu ntrtrr1en.si.s [;vans {(Rao, 1964). Fruit rot due to D. phuseolina Sacc. is also

reported from Maharashtra (Rao, 1966).

Dry rot

Dry rot due to Rhizf~pzts nigricuns Ehr. ex Fr. is reported from Maharashtra

(Rao, 1971 ). Drq rot due to a species of Cludosporium herbarum (Pers.) Link. is

also known (Alaka Pande & Rao, 1998)

Other fungal diseas1:s are downy mildew due to Phytophthora phaseoli

Thaxt. (Rohm & Hae's. 1959) and pod rot due to Alternuria alternatu (Fr.)

Keissl.(=A tenuic Nees.) (&io. 1965), pod spot due to Curvularia lunata (Wakk.)

Boed. (Alaka Pande & Rao, 1998) and charcoal rot due to Macrophomina

phaseolina (Tass~ ) Gold. (hllukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B.16. LlME I SOUR LlME (Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swing.)

Fam. Rutaceae

Mal. ('herimtrrungu

Hindi Nimhoo

Lime is a shrub or small tree belongs to the family, Rutaceae. It is grown

throughout India, especially in A.P., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Bihar, U.P.,

Punjab, West Bengal, M.P. and Rajasthan. Fruit small, globose or ovoid, with a thick

or thin rind, pulp pale, sharply acid.

The juice 1s sprinkled on soup, dal cuny, to which impart a pleasant acid taste

and agreeable flavour. lJsed i n the preparation of pickle, also used in medicine,

souring of milk, preparation of cool drink. squashes, sherbets etc. Lime juice is used

in soap industry also. An improved variety of Lime is Jamburi (Sen, 1996; Pandey,

2001 ).

The fungal diseases reported are

Phytophthora rot

This is a very severe disease during rainy season. The affected fruits rot

emitting a foul smell. l'he causal organism is P. palmivora Butl. (Nair & Menon,

1983).

Citrus scab

Citrus scab is caused by El.tinoe,fi~cetti, Bitanc. & Jenkins and its conidial

state Sphrrc~elomcr fu~>ce/i' i Jenkins. Scab will reduce the market value of fruits (Nair

& Menon. 1983).

Other fungal diseases of lime are the rot caused by Penicillium itulicum

Wehm. and Penicillium digitaturn Sacc.in storage (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan,

1999). Sour rot of oranges is caused by Geotrichum candidum Link. ex Pers.

reported from Italy (Cif'f'eri, 1956).

Frult rot due to Chndidu krusei (Cast.) Berk. from Maharashtra,

C'ollt~tolric.hum gloeosporoitles Penz. from Punjab and U.P., Fusarium laleritium

Nees., Geonichum candidum Link. ex Pers. and Gloeosporium limetticolum Claus.

from U.P. are also recorded from India (Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986).

B.17. LITTLE GOURD (Coccinia indica W. & A,)

( = Cephulundru indica L.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Koi'ukku

Hindi Kundrzi

Little gourd belong!: to the family Cucurbitaceae. The plant is a dioecious

semi- perennial creeper. Fruit is a fleshy pepo, small round or thick, skin green with

or without white stripes.

Little gourd is believed to be native of India and relished as vegetables by a

large number of people. Little gourd is cultivated in the eastern and southern parts. It

is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins A and C. The fruits are eaten raw as salad and

cooked. No improved varieties are known and hence local varieties are cultivated

(Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001 ).

A few hngal disease!; have been reported in little gourd. They are

Anthracnose

This 1s a serious disease caused by (blletotrichum Iagenarium (Pass.) Ell. &

Halst. (Mundkur. 1937; Rao, 1964). C gloeosporoides Penz. is reported from A.P.

(Mukerji 6;: Bhasin. 1986).

Black rot

Black rot due to .4lternariu renuis Auct. is reported fiom Maharashtra (Rao,

1 964).

Soft rot

Soft rot is a minor disease caused by Choanephora sp. and is reported from

West Bengal (Mandal (Pc Dasgupta, 1981). C. infundibuluera (Carrey) Cunn. is

known to cause soft rot from different parts of India (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Brown rot

This disease is caused by Mucrophornina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. reported

fiom West Hengal (Dasgupta & Mandal, 1989).

Cottony white rot

This disease is caused by specices of Fusarium, F. sernitecturn Berk. & Rav.,

I? equisrti (Corda.) Sacc. and F. oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd, et Hans. are

known to cause this disease from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981).

Fruit rot due to iVhizopus nigricans Ehr. ex Fr. is also reported from

Maharashtra, during storage (Rao. 1964). Rot due to Curvularia lunafa (Wakk.)

Hoed ... Mucrophornu sp. and Rhizoc~toniu solani Kuhn. in A.P. are recorded.

Gibbrrellr~,fi~jiktrroi (Saw.) Wr. is reported from M.P. (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986).

B.18. PEA / GREEN PEA (Pisum sativum L.)

Fam. Fabaceae

Mal. Attuni puyar

Hindi Baru mctrur ! Muttur

Pea is a herbaceous annual with twining habit produces either straight or

curved pods containing 2 lo 10 free seeds. Pea is believed to have originated in

Europe or Western Asia. 'The crop is cultivated throughout the plains in India during

winter and its consumption is fairly large either green or dried. It is rich in protein

and vitan~ins ( A and C ) and conta~n minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Apart from being used as a vegetable, it is also used in the dehydrated and canned

forms. The seeds are fried and also used along with other vegetables and meat.

The cultivated varieties are Asauji, Meteor, Early Badger, Arkel, Early

December. Bonneville, New Line Perfection, Bridger, T-17, T-19, P-8, P-35,

Marrowfat. Thomas Laxton, NP-29, Early Giant, Lincoln. Alderman, Sylvia with

edible pod (Sen. 1996; Pandey, 2001 ).

Several fungal diseases have been reported.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is very common during monsoon months. Infected pods lose

their green colour due to necrotic spots and become yellowish brown and lighter in

weight. The causal agent is identified as ('ollerotrichumpi.si &t. This is a pre-harvest

disease originating in the field (Rao, 1964). This disease is also caused by

C: glnrosporoides Penz. (Alaka Pande & Rao, 1998).

Cottony leak

Cottony leak is found on long - stored pods during rainy season, and the rotted

fruits emit a foul alcoholic odour. The pathogen responsible for this disease is

Phytophthoru pciru.srticcc [last. (Rao, 1964).

Pod spot

This disease produc~es blemishes on the surface of the fruit which reduce their

market value. Allernuriu lenuis Auct. is the cause of this storage disease (Rao, 1964).

Another species of Alternarra viz, ..l.ulfernatu (Fr.) Keissl. (=A.tenuis Nees.) is

reported from Allahabad (Rao, 1965). A, hra.~sicue (Berk.) Sacc. var. phaseoli Brun.

is known to cause fruit rot in Bihar (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Pod spot disease is also produced by species of Ascochyra (Rohm & Hae's

1959; Hilgrami ri ul, 1979; Furgal Wegrzynska, 1984).

Cottony white rot

Cottony white rot is reported from Haryana (Dhingra & Mehrotra, 1980) and

from West Hengal (Dasgupta &: Mandal. 1989). Fusuriurn oxysporum (Schl. ex. Fr.)

em. Snyd. et Hans. and F .s~rnitec/um Berk. & Rav. are the causal organisms.

Other fungal discases of peas are grey scab due to Cladosporium

.sphaarro.s/~rrrn~rm Pcnz. reported from U.P.(Srivastava & Tandon, 1968), pod rot due

to Sclrroftni~r c.rlrroliorum (Lib.) de Bary &m Rajasthan (Agrawat et 01, 1980;

Sharma, 1985). soft rot due to Rhizopus o w e Went. & Prinsen from West Bengal

(Mandal & Dasgupta. 1 98 I :I.

Furgal Wegrzynska (1984) isolated few fungal pathogens from the diseased

pea pods. viz. ('yihiirm ~rllirnltm Trow.. Aphanomyces eureiches Drechs., Rhizoctonia

soluni Kuhn. and Thieln~,,io~~sis husicolu Berk. & Br. Ferraris. Rot due to Curvularia

11mctttr (Wakk.) Boed. is also reported (Tandon & Venna, 1964). Alaka Pande and

Rao (1 998) described pod rot due to species of Gloeosporium in garden peas.

B.19. PUMPKIN (Cucurbita mosrhata Duch. ex Poir.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Muthun

Hindi Situphul i Onitfiu ktrddoo

Pumpkin (Cururhit,~ moschutu Duch. ex Poir.) is believed to be a native of

North and South America. Different specices are grown in Kerala, C. moschata Duch.

ex Poir., (', pepo l.inn. (Mal. Churu mathan) and C.maxima Duch. (Mal.Ve1Iari

maihan). These specices differ in the colour of flesh and shape of fruits, yellow flesh,

red flesh, large red and large round. It is rich in carbohydrates. minerals and vitamins

A and C. It is grown throughout India primarily as a vegetable, which is consumed. It

is also used in sweet preparations like halwa, payasam etc. Improved varieties are

Arka chandran, IHR 83-1 -1 -1, CO- I (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

A few diseases are recorded earlier. They are

Cottony white rot

This disease is reported from Himachal Pradesh due to Fusarium oxysporum

(Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. el Hans. (Gangopadhyay & Sharma, 1976). Similar rot

caused by F .\oluni (Mart.) App. Wr. em. Snyd. & Hans. is known from West Bengal

(Dasgupta & Mandal, 1989).

Grey white rot

This disease is noticed on ripe and injured fruits. The fungus identified is

Sclerofium rolf.sii Sacc. (Wlandal & Dasgupta, 1981). Singh and Seth (1974) reported

collar rot of'pumpkin caused by S rolfiii.

Charcoal rot due to Macrophomina phaseolina (Tarsi.) Goid. is common

throughout India. From Kamataka fruit rot due to Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.)

Lind. is recorded (Mukerj~ & Bhasin. 1986). Sour rot due to Geotrichum candidum

Link. ex Pers. is reported tiom West Bengal (Mandal, 1981). Besides a black mould

rot due to .4spergillrr.s nigc3r 'V. Tiegh. is also known from West Bengal (Dasgupta &

Mandal 1989).

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Prechinga

Hindi Kuli torui

Ridge gourd (Luffrr ucutangulu (L.) Koxb.) is considered as a native of India,

now spread all over the tropics and sub-tropics of both the hemispheres. Immature

tender fruits are used as vegetable. The fruits are rich in vitamins minerals and fibres.

Mature fruits are used for the: fibres for domestic and industrial purposes, known as

vegetable sponge.

Improved varieties are Pusa Nasdhar, Satputia, Pusa Chitni, Kalyanpur Gbia

Torai 5235 (Sen, 1996; Pande:y, 2001 ).

Several fungal diseases are reported from ridge gourd. They are

Soft rot

Sol? rot is common during wet season and probably originates in the field.

The pathogen enters the host through wounds. The causal agent is identified as

Pythium aphunrdermutum (Eds.) Fitz (Mitra & Subrarnanian, 1928; Rao, 1964).

Dasgupta and Mandal ( 1989) reported this disease from West Bengal. Soft rot is also

caused by kusurrum oxy.ylorum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et Hans. (Rao, 1964).

Mucor specices are also known to cause soft rot, M. hiemalis Wehm. and

A!. circinelloitk~s V Tieglh. in Punjab (Singh et al,1979; Bilgrami e f al, 1991) and

West Bengal (I>asgupta & Manda1,1989).

Dirty grey rot

Dirty grey rot of ridge gourd due to Rhizoctoniu solani Kuhn. is reported

from West Bengal. 'The d~isease is carried from the field to the market (Mandal &

Dasgupta. 1981 ). R. htrtrrlicola (Taub.) Butl. is another species which cause dirty grey

rot known from Maharashtra iMukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Brown rot

This is a common disease in Maharashtra during rainy season. The causal

agent is Rhizopus nigrican.~ Ehr.ex Fr.(Rao, 1964).

Other diseases of importance are creepy cottony rot due to Sclerotium rolfsii

Sacc. reported from Rajasthan (Agrawat el a / , 1980), sour rot due to Geotrichum

candidum Link. ex Pers. rroticed on day-old left over stock of injured fruits in the

market and kitchen storelj. The diseased fruits emit a sour fermentative odour

(Dasgupta & Manda1,1989). Singh and Chohan (1972) noted charcoal rot due to ,

Mucrophominu phuseolinu (T'assi.) Goid. from Punjab. Rot caused by Cladosporium

herharum (Pers.) Link. ex Fr. is known from U.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

B.21. SNAKE GOURD 1 PATOL (Trichosnnthes anguina L.)

Fam. Cucurbitaceae

Mal. Puluv~rlltrrn

Hindi Puri~~ul C'hcrchrnu'cr

Snake gourd (Trichosunthes unguinu L.) is cultivated all over India and is

believed to be Indian in oripin. Another species, T. dioica Roxb. is cultivated mainly

in North India, Assam and Bengal. This fruity vegetable is rich in vitamins and

minerals. The fru~ts are also used in confectionery and pickled. The fruits show some

medicinal properties in the control of cancer like conditions (Sen, 1996; Pandey,

2001).

A few fungal diseases of snake gourd are reported from various parts of the

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is due to a species of <blletotrichum state of Glomerella

cinyulirtir (Stonem) Spauld. & Shrenk. known from U.P. (Singh, 1973).

Soft rot

Sofi rot is produced by specices of Fusarium from Maharashtra (Rao, 1966)

and West Rengal (Mandal &. Dasgupta, 1981). Soft rot due to Rhizopus stolonifer

Ehr. ex Fr. is also reported from U.P. (Singh el 01, 1975).

Hrlmin~ho.sporivm .spiciferrcm (Bain.) Nicot. responsible for fruit rot is

recorded from A.P. Rot due to Pythilim aphunidermatum (Eds.) Fitz. is known to

occur in Bihar (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986). Brown rot due to Alternuria tenuissima

(Nees ex Fr.) Wiltshire. (Fr.) Keissl. is reported from U.P. (Singh, 1974).

B.22. SWORD BEAN (Canavelia ensiformis D.C. Baker)

Fam. Fabaceae

Mal. Lirlumuru

Hindi Mukhan sem / Burcr sem

It is a herbaceous twining annual grown for its tender fruits, used as

vegetable. It is rich in proteins and minerals. It is cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu,

Karnataka and other parts of'rhe country

The diseases reported earlier are

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a cornmon disease of sword bean characterized by black

spotting on the pods, which reduce the market value. The causal agent of this disease

is identified as Glomerr~llu lindemtrlhiuncr Shear. The imperfect or conidial stage is

('o//etolrichum lindem~clhionum (Sacc. & Magn.) Br. & Cav. (Nair & Menon, 1983;

Rangaswamy & Mahadcvan, 1999). C. cupsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby also cause this

disease (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Bean rot caused by .4itrrnariu trlrernutu (Fr.) Keissl. is recorded from U.P.

(Mukerji & Bhasin. 1986). Collar rot due to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is known to

occur in Kerala (Samraj & Jose, 1969).

B.23. TOMATO (Lycopersicon escu/entum Mill.)

Fam. Solanaceae

Mal. Tukkulr

Hindi Tumutur

Tomato (I,ycopersicon esrulenrum Mill.) is a native of Peru-Eucador area

from where it is spread to various parts of the world. It is a popular vegetable of

Indian markets. It is consumed either fresh or processed. Tomatoes have high

nutritive value and contain vitamins A, B, C and B2 of which vitamin C is very

important. Various dishes like soups, salads, pickles, ketchups, sauces etc. are

prepared from tomato fruits. Harvesting is done at different stages of maturity

according to the purpose.

lmproved cultivated, varieties are Pusa Ruby, Pusa Early Dwarf, Sioux, Roma,

Marglobe, Punjab Chhuhara, Angurlatha, Ponderose etc. (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Several major and minor diseases of tomato fruits are reported from various

parts of the country and abroad.

Brown rot

This disease is associated with green fruits during rainy season, the diseased

fruits emit a stinking odour. The causal agent is Phytophthoraparasitica Dast. (Rao,

1964). Similar disease caused by specices of Ph)~tophthora are also reported from

Punjab, affect the green as well as ripe fruits. The pathogen identified is P. nicotianae

f. sp. paru.siricir (Dast.) Waterh. (Sohi. 1982). P. infesfans (Mont.) de Bary is known

to cause fruit rot and leaf rot of tomato (Trout et al, 1997). P infestuns (Mont.) de

Bary. P.pulmivoru Butl. and P. puru.~ifica Dast. cause fruit and stem rot (Sohi, 1982;

Rangaswamy & Mahatievan, 1999). Fruit rot of tomato caused by

P. palmivortr Butl. is reported by Ramakrishnan and Soumini (1947). P. colocasiae

Racib. em. Thorn. & Ramakr. cause fruit rot known from Maharashtra (Mukerji &

Bhasin, 1986).

Alternaria rot

Alternaria rot is a widespread disease reported from various regions of the

country. It is caused by A alternutu (Fr.) Keissl. This is known from Bihar

(Thirumalachar & Mishra. 1'253). IJ.1'. (Srivastava et ul, 1964), Maharashtra (Rao,

1966), M.P.(Ratnam & Nema. 1967). West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1982) and

Punjab (Sohi, 1982). '4 ~ o / u r ~ i (Ell. & Mart.) Jones & Grout. is also known to cause

fruit rot of tomato (Rao. 1964).

Waxy rot / sour rot

This disease is noticed during rainy season in green as well as ripe fruits in

almost all tomato growing areas of the world. The causal organism is Geotrichum

candid~rm 1.ink.e~ Pers. 11n lndia it is reported from M.P. (Nema, 1952, Ratnam &

Nema, 1967). Maharashtra (Rao, 1964, 1966), U.P. (Srivastava & Tandon, 1966;

Jamaluddin L,/ ul, 1972; B~lgrami er ul, 1979), Punjab (Sohi, 1982), West Bengal and

from Meghalaya (Mandal. 1981).

Soft rot

Soft rot is one of the worst affected post harvest diseases of ripe tomato fruits

by specices of Rhizopus. R. arrhizus Fisher, R. rhizopodiformis (Cohn.) Zopf. and

R. stolonifefer. Ehr. ex Fr. is known from U.P. (Srivastava & Tandon, 1966; Bilgrami

el 01. 1979) R trrrhiz~rs Fisher and R. rhizopod$ormis (Cohn.) Zopf. are also known

from M.P. (Ratnam & Nema, 1967) and West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1978,

1983).

Sunken black spot

Sunken black spot is a serious disease caused by Phoma desbuctiva Flower

reported from 1J.S.A (Jamieson, 1915). In India this disease is known to occur in

Punjab (Grover. 1965; Sohi, 1982), Maharashtra (Rao, 1966) and West Bengal

(Mandal & Dasgupta, 1982).

Halo spot

This disease is widespread in lndia caused by Coryne.spora cassicola (Berk.

and Clurt.) Wei. Halo spot is known to occur in Orissa (Mohanty & Mohanty, 1955),

IJ.P. (Khanna & Chandra. 19'75) and West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981).

Black mould rot

Black mould rot is a serious disease of tomato due to Aspergillus niger

V. Tiegh. This disease is reported from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981).

Yellow mould rot

This d~sease is due to A~pergillus Jlavus Link. ex Fr. reported from U.P.

(Khanna & C'handra. 1975.1976) and West Bengal (Mandal & Ilasgupta, 1981).

Cottony white rot

This disease is known from all over the world caused by specices of

Fusarium. b eqliiseti (Corda) Sacc., I... monilforme Scheld., F: solani (Mart.) Sacc.

and F ox):sporltm f, sp. !r~co~persici (Sacc.) Snyd. & Hans.(Bilgrami et al, 1979;

Mandal & I)asgupta. 1981; Sohi. 1982). 1.: nivale (Fr.) Ces. from Haryana and

F. roselrm [.ink. from U.f'. are also recorded (Garg & Gupta, 1980; Mukerji &

Bhasin, 1986).

Colletotrichum rot

Colletotrichum rot dt:velops on green fruits during rainy season. The pathogen

identified is (' cupsicr (Sjd.1 Butl. & Bisby (Rao, 1964). C' phomoides (Sacc.)

Chester. is also known to cause h i t rot of tomato (Rohrn & Hae's, 1959).

C'. demafirrm (Pers. ex Fr ) Grove. is reported from U.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Cladosporium rot

'This is a severe disease of tomato in storage caused by C?. fulvum Cke. (Rao,

1964). Another species viz. C. /mui.ssimum (Cooke.) is recorded from Orissa

(Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Woody black rot

This disease is due to ilfyrothecium roridum Tode. ex Fr, reported from U.P.

(Tandon & Srivastava 196.3; Bilgrami et ul, 1979), West Bengal (Mandal &

Dasgupta, 198 1 ) and from Punjab (Sohi, 1982).

Other post harvest diseases of minor importance are rot caused by

Exosporium lyc~opersici sp. nov. from Karnataka (Khan & Sulia, 1981), black rot due

to Nigrosporci oryzae (Berk. & Br.) Petch., green mould rot due to Penicillium

ovalicum Currie &Thorn. recorded from West Bengal ( Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981)

Fuzzy yellow rot due to Mucor specices., M. circinelloides V. Tiegh. and

M hiemtrli.~ Wehm. from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1978, 1983), stalk end

rot due to Stemphylium ~~r.sic,arium (Wallroth) Sinnmon, circular spot due to

(/locladizrm chtirttrr~im (Preuss). Simmons reported from West Bengal (Dasgupta &

Manda1.198')). soft rot of tomato due to Sclerotitrm rolfiii Sacc. (Prasad r t al, 1988)

are other diseases of post harvest origin.

Stalk and skin black spot due to ('urvulariu geniculata Tr. & Earl.,

C'. lycopprrsic.i from I1.P. and Punjab (Tandon & Kakkar, 1964). C. lunata (Wakk.)

Boed. from Punjab (Sohi, 1982) and C. prusadii from West Bengal (Mandal &

Dasgupta, 198 1 ) are diseases caused by C'urvularia species.

Fruit rot due to Rhizopus s~olon~fer Ehr. ex. Fr., Boiryris cinerea Pers. and

Oospora 1uc.ri.s (Fr.) Sacc. t'Nair & Menon, 1983) and watery rot due to 0. lactis

(Fr.) Sacc. t: partrsitictr Pritchard & Porte. (Nema, 1952) are also reported.

(j~lintlrocurpon lorrkinese Bugn., Cylindrocladium scoparium Morg.,

Drrchslrru u~rstrulien.sis (Bugn.) Subrm. & Jain, Gibberellaper.~icuria (Eddy) Hess.

var. indicu Mehrotra 6t Mekrro tra in U. P.. Mucrophominu phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid.,

Peyronelltrrtr ntrinirnsis Tandon & Bilgrami, Pythium debaryanum Hess.,

Rhizoctoniu soluni Kuhn., Syncephulastrum racemosum (Cohn.) Schroet,

Trichotheci~trn rosrlrm Link. ex Fr. are other fungal pathogens recorded on stored

tomatoes from various parts of the country (Muke rji & Bhasin, 1986).

TUBEROUS

VEGETABLES

4 1

n 1-

POST HARVEST FUNGAL DISEASES OF

TUBEROUS VEGETABLES

T h e pressure on demand for food mainly due to the rapid growth of human

population stressed the importance of tuber crops as non-conventional food in the

diet, especially of lower income groups in developing countries. These tuber crops

include cassava (tapioca). sweet potato. potato, yams etc. and are considered as staple

foods for the tropical and sub-.tropical regions like Africa, Caribbea, South America,

India and South East Asia.

Studies on tropical :tuber crops have gained considerable momentum during

the last few decades. both at the national as well as international levels.

Large scale cultivation of these tuber crops resulted in storage and transit of

these food crops. These crops are infected by various groups of fungi during storage

resulting storage root. The present part deals with some such fungal rots on tuber

crops. For convenience fungal diseases of tuberous vegetables are described in two

groups - I . fingal diseases of root tubers and 2. fungal diseases of stem tubers.

ROOT TUBERS

C. 1. BEET ROOT (Beta vulgaris L.)

Fam. Chenopodiaceae

Mal. Bert roo1

Hindi C'hukundirr

Beetroot belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae. The plant is herbaceous and

an annual for root productio~n and a biennial for seed production. The diameter of the

edible root ranges from 3 to 5 cm.

Although definite information about the area of origin of beetroot is not

available, some believe that the plant is a native of Europe. Others are of view that it

may have originated in Asia or in Mediterranean region. The beetroot is grown in

almost all the states of India. but it is much less common than other root crops.

It is taken row or cooked and is commonly used in salads. It is sometimes

used for preparing pickle and chutney The roots are rich in proteins, carbohydrates,

calcium and phosphorus.

important varieties under cultivation are Crimson Globe and Detroit Dark Red

(Sen, 1996: I'andry, 200 1 ).

A few post harvest I'lungal diseases are reported in beet root.

Brown rot

This 1s a serious disease of beetroot, the rotted root emit a foul smell. The

causal organism is identified as Geotrichum candidum Linkex Pers. (Rao, 1964).

Cottony white rot

Cottony white rot is a common type of decay of beetroots when stored for

longer periods. The causal agent of this disease is Fusarium ovsporum Schl. ex Fr. It

is essentially a wound parasite. and is reported from Maharashtra (Rao, 1966) and

West Bengal (Dasgupta & Mandal, 1989).

Creepy white rot

This disease is due to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. and is an important disease of

beetroot in USA (Walker, 1952). In India this is known from West Bengal (Dasgupta

& Mandal, 1989).

Root rot due to Priliculuriu ,filamentosa (Pat.) Rogers from Karnataka.

P. rolfsii (Sacc.) West. from (J.P., root rot caused by Rhizopus oryzae Went. &

Gerling and Sclrrotiniu sclarotiorum (Lib.) de Bary are other fungal diseases

recorded from different parts of India (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

C. 2. CARROT (Daucus carofa L.)

Fam. Apiaceae

Mal. ('tirror

Hindi G'r~jur

Carrot is a biennial herb with conical fleshy tap root. Carrot has two groups,

Asain types and European lypes. They differ in the shape of roo1 ends.

Carrot is a common root crop cultivated throughout India and is believed to be

a native of 1-urope. It is now grown in the plains of India for the root? which is very

nutritious and is consumed by many. The orange colour of the root is due to the

presence of carotenes. The darker coloured varieties are believed to possess higher

nutritive value.

Carrot is eaten raw or as a cooked vegetable and is also used in the

preparation of sweets. Besides carotenes, carbohydrates and minerals are also present

in carrots in considerable amounts. The large sized varieties of carrot, mostly the

black coloured ones, are used as fodder in some states of India. Carrot is used as a

salad, in the preparation of halwa etc. It has medicinal value and is supposed to have

anticataract and anticancerous properties (Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

Cultivated varieties of carrot are

1) Europeadtemperate var. Nantes, Coreless, Chantaney

2) Asianltropical var. Pusa Kesar

A fe* fungal diseases are reported from carrot during storage.

Black rot

This is a common storage disease during rainy season. The pathogen

Alternariu rmui.\ (Nees.) is known to infect the roots through wounds (Lauritzen,

1932; Kao, 1964). Thls disease is also caused by A. radicinu Meir. Drech. & Eddy

first reported from India by Pate1 rt ul, (1949) from Poona, Sharma and Sumbali

(1993) from North India and Gnha Roy ( 1996) from West Bengal.

Cottony white rot

Cottony white rot is a serious disease of carrot both, in field and storage

(Pantastico. 1975; Eckert. 1978). Different specices of Fusarium are known to cause

this rot in storage, viz. I; o.rysporum (Schl.ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et Hans. is reported

from U.P. (Srivastava er u I , 1964). ' .solani (Mart.) Sacc. from West Bengal (Mandal

& Dasgupta. I98 I ) and Fu!;urium sp. from Maharashtra (Rao, 1966).

Sour rot

This is due to C;t,otrithum cundidum Link. ex Pers. and is one of the serious

post harvest d~seases of carrot. Suhag and Duhan reported this disease for the first

time in India (1979) from Haryana followed by Mandal and Dasgupta (1981) from

West Bengal.

Creepy white rot

This disease is reported from Assam (Roy, 1977) and West Bengal (Mandal &

Dasgupta, 1978). The pathogen isolated and identified is Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.

Soft rot

Two specices of Kh,izopus, viz. R. oryzae Went. & Gerling and R. srolonifkr

Ehr. ex Fr, are known to cause soft rot of carrot from West Bengal (Mandal &

Dasgupta, 198 1 ).

Root rot due to Rhizocroniu carotar Rader. from Kerala (Rehumathniza et a[,

1981), watery soft rot due to Sclerotinlu sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary are other minor

diseases recorded from Lnida (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

C. 3. CASSAVA / TAPIOCA (Manihot esculenta Crantz.)

(= M. utilissima Pohl.)

Fam. Euphorbiaceae

Mal. Murtrchrrni kizhungu

Hindi iLlirrtrvuli

Tapioca 1s a perennial plant, and some of the branching varieties, if allowed to

grow indefinitely attain the size of a small tree. Under cultivation, the plants are

harvested tiom the eighth to tenth month after planting. The plants have tall, thin and

straight stems. which are marked along their length by numerous leaf scars.

I t is a native of South America, but is widely grown in all tropical and

sub-tropical regions. According to MacMillan it was introduced by the Portuguese in

the seventeenth century. It ts the most important tropical root crops, next to sweet

potato and furnishes the basic food for millions of people, especially in the Third

World Countries. Kerala is the only place where tapioca is extensively grown in

India with more than half a million acres under cultivation.

The tapioca tubers are exploited commercially to obtain starch, sago, semolina

and flour. As the fresh tubers do not keep in good condition for more than a week,

they are usually preservedl as dry chips. It is commonly used as fresh tubers, boiled

and prepared in the same vvay as potatoes.

Tap~oca can be considered as the second staple food of the Kerala State. Dried

fried chips are very delicio~us and tasty. It is prepared like potato chips. Out of tapioca

dried flour a delicious preparation known as "puttu" is prepared and consumed as a

common breakfast in Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu, rJried flour is also used

for making "pappads". hafers, glucose and starch. Tubers are also used for the

preparation of alcohol.

The cultivated varieties are H - and M - series, H - 96/44, H -105144,

H - 20150, H -12149 and hd .. 4, M - 5, M-6 etc. (Anujan, 1979; Sen, 1996; Pandey,

2001).

Although the crop is affected by many diseases in the field very few post

harvest diseases are known.

Dry rot

Rot due to F'u.surizrm soluni (Mart.) Sacc. is reported (Sivaprakasam el al,

1977). Dehydration of tubers results in the development of cracks in the rind and this

will be followed by invasion of micro organisms predominantly Rhizopus oryrae

Went. & Cierling (Maini & Halagopal, 1978).

Botryodiplodia rot

Rot due to Bo/r,voliipl(~diu throhromae Pat. has been reported from Nigeria

(Ekundayo & Llaniel, 1973). This disease is also reported from India by Dasgupta and

Mandal ( 1989).

Anthracnose

This disease of cassava is caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporoides Penz. on

tubers reported from Kerala (Nair rt uI. 1997).

Mucor rot

This disease is caused by Mzrcor hiemalis Wehrn. and is reported from Kerala

by Philip ( 198 I ). The fungus induces a soft rot, and there may be luxuriant mould

growth with globular spore heads. which darken as they mature.

Besides a non pathogenic storage rot known as vascular streaking

(physiological) IS known in almost all cassava cultivars wherever they are grown

(Booth, 1976).

C. 4. SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir.)

Fam. Convolvulaceae

Mal. C'hakkurukizhangu ,fA4udurakizhangu / Cheenikizhangu

Hindi Shaktirkundi ~Mirhu alu

Sweet potato is a twining and trailing herb which may vary from 0.6 to 6.0 m

in length. It bears adventitious roots that end in swollen tubers (tuberous roots),

which may be white or red skinned.

Sweet potato is believed to be a native of tropical America. It is now widely

grown throughout the tropics and some parts of the temperate zone. Large scale

cultivat~on of the crop is conlmon in Maxico, Central America, South America,

Mediterranean region of the E:,urope, Africa, India, China, Japan and the Pacific

Islands.

Sweet potato is a very important crop of India, perhaps the most important

root crop and is considered to be a poor man's food. The area under cultivation is

roughly about 2.30,000 hectares and the total production is about 1.6 million tomes.

The tubers of swect potato are very rich in starch (16%). They contain some

sugar (doh), protein and fat also. The tubers are used as food and may be eaten raw,

boiled or roasted. Besides, they are consumed as a common vegetable and are also

used for canning, dehydrating and tbr flour production. Sweet potatoes are good

source of starch. glucose syrup and alcohol and is used in the preparation of

sweetmeats

Some of the important varieties are Pusa Safed, Pusa Lal, Pusa, Sunheri, SP-3,

SP-9, Ranger, Bhadrakali. tlosur Red, Gold Rush, Centenniat, H-42, (2-71, OP-5,

Co-2. C-43. S-30, H-33. 13-55, H-268, Kalmegh, Panama Suthana etc. (Sen, 1996;

Pandey, 200 1 ).

Several diseases arc: reported from India.

Soft rot

Soft rot is due to Khizopus specices is a major storage rot of sweet potato in

most of the sweet potato growing regions of India (Sinha & Prasad, 1986) and abroad

(Harter et '11, 1921). Important specices are R. nigricans Ehr. ex Fr., R. oryzae

Went.& Gerling and R. stolonifi?r Ehr ex Fr. Soft rot is reported from Maharashtra

(Rao, 1963) and West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981). R. lritici and R. stolonifer

Ehr. ex Fr. itre known to cause severe damage to the crop in USA (Coursey & Booth,

1972). Dasgupta and Mantlal (1989) reported this rot from West Bengal. Soft rot due

to R. stolon~fir Ehr. ex Fr. is known from Orissa (Thomson, 1979) and due to

R . oryzar Wenr &. Gerling from Orissa (Ray et al, 1997).

Charcoal rot

This is a serious disease of sweet potato reported by Patel et a1 (1949) from

Maharashtra. The causal agent is Marrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. Mandal

and Dasgupta ( 198 I ) noticed this disease in West Bengal markets.

Brown rot

Brown rot due to !;clerotium rolfSii Sacc. is responsible for collar rot of this

plant in the field (Sivaprakasarn & Kandaswamy, 1983; Sivaprakasam & Jayarajan,

1985).

Dry rot 1 Java black rot

Dry rot 1s caused by Botryodrplodra theobromae Pat. in tropics and sub-

tropics (Arinze & Smith. 1979, 1982: Puthinalingam , 1980; Jenkins, 1982; Somner,

1986; Snowden. 199 1 ; Raq & Misra 1995; Ray & Puthinalingam, 1996; Mohapatra et

ul. 200 1 ).

Other diseases of minor importance are blue mould rot due to PeniciNium sp.

(Coursey & Booth, 1972), green mould rot caused by P. digitatum Sacc. reported

from Karnataka (Ravichandran & Sullia. 1983), black mould rot due to Aspergillus

niger V. Tieyh., superficial rot due to Acremonium sp. and waxy rot due to

Geotrichum cundidum Lirk. ex Pers., West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981).

From Kamataka brown soft rot due to Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn., slimy brown

patch caused by Myrothrcium roridum Tode. ex Fr., sunken brown spot caused by

Stemphylium hotryosunt Wallr. and shiny black rot caused by Arthrinium

phaeosperm~rm (Corda) Ell. are known (Ravichandran & Sullia, 1983). Rot due to a

species of Rhizoctonia is reported from Bombay (Mundkur, 1936).

STEM TUBERS

C. 5. COUNTRY POTATO (Coleus parviflorus Benth.)

Fam. 1,abiatae

Mal. Koorkk~~ kizhungtr

Country potato is a herbaceous annual cultivated for its tuberous stems. It is

supposed to be a native of 4frica. Arabians brought this crop to the Malabar area. In

India it is cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Tuberous stem which

contains carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, is used as food. As an under utilized

tuber crop, this is marketed to limited regions of the country. The crop is

comparatively free from storage rot (Bilgrami et ul, 1979, 1981, 1991; Mukeji &

Bhasin, 1986).

Fungal diseases of leaves caused by Alternaria aNernata (Fr.) Keissl. from

Maharashtra, F'~tscrri~tm ~iv~!ntrceum (br.) Sacc. from U.P. and wilt due to Sclerotium

rolfsii Sacc. from Kerala are reported earlier from Coleus spp. (Mukerji & Bhasin,

1986).

C. 6. ELEPHANT EAR I TARO (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.)

( = C, antiquorum Schott.)

Fam. Araceae

Mal. C'hemhu

Hindi A n v

Elephant ear is a biennial herb cultivated throughout India for its edible

corms. It is a native of S O L I ~ ~ East Asia. The corms are roasted or boiled to destroy

acrid calcium oxalate crystals from the raw tubers. The leaves are used as vegetable.

Tubers are also used for the production of alcohol.

Different varieties are cultivated in Kerala, such as thamarakkannan, kochu

chemhu, kunnan chemhu etc. Improved varieties are Bangali Banda, Desi Banda,

Faziabadi, V-200 (Sen. 1996; Pandey, 2001).

A few fungal diseases are reported. They are

Corm rot

Corm rot by I jdindrocurpon lichenicola (Massal.) Hawks (Usharani & Rama

Rao, 1981) and root and ca'm rot by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (Prasad & Rao, 1971)

are of importance in certain regions of the country. This disease is also reported from

Bangladesh (Dey rt ul. 1992 1.

Dry rot

This disease reported in India is due to Fusarium coeruleum (Lib.) Sacc.

(Tandon & Agarwal. 1956). while that reported from Nigeria is caused by F. solani

(Mart.) Sacc. (Nwufo & Fajola, 1981).

Other minor diseases are the corm rot due to Drechslera colocasiae Tandon

& Bhargava from U.P. (Tandon & Bhargava, 1980) and by Phytophthora colocasiae

Racib. em. Thorn. & Ramakr. (Kulkami & Sharma, 1975; Nair & Menon, 1983). Dry

rot caused by Aspergillus niger V . Tiegh., Botiyodiplodia theobrornae Sacc.,

Rhizopus sto1onifl.r Ehr. ex Fr., and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. are also known from

Nigeria (Nwufo & Fajola, 198 1). Pre - harvest rot of leaf and corm are recorded from

India, due to .Ilternuritr rr,nuissirnu (Kze. ex Pers.), Phytophthora arecae (Colem.)

Pethyr., Rhizoctoniu sp., Pvrhium aphuniderrnaturn (Eds.) Fitz. and Sclerotiurn rolfsii

Sacc. (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999). Root rot due to Botryodiplodia

theobromtre Pat. is also reported from Maharashtra (D'Souza & Moniz, 1968).

C. 7. ELEPHANT FOOT YAM (Amorphophallus canrpanulatus BI.)

Fam. Araceae

Mal. C'haunu

Hindi Zclmrn kiind

Elephant foot yam is a biennial grown for tuberous corm. It is cultivated

throughout Kerala. Tamil Nadu, Kamataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and other

parts of the country. The comls are massive contain carbohydrates and minerals. It is

used as a vegetable and also in pickling. Fried chips are also used. Some varieties are

medicinal.

A few fLngal diseases are reported fiom elephant foot yam.

Soft rot

Sofi rot caused by Sclerorium roIf:~ii Sacc. is more in storage during rainy

season. This d~sease is reported from Maharashtra (Vasudeva, 1960), West Bengal

(Mandal & Dasgupta, 198 1 I and Rajasthan (7 yagi & Sharma, 1977).

Dirty grey rot

This is a major disease occurring in the late rainy season, as reported from

West Bengal (Dasgupta & Mandal, 1989). The causal agent of this disease is

Rhizoctonii~ .\oltmi Kuhn.. anamorphic state of Thanatephorus cucurneris (Fr.) Donk.

Other storage rots of this crop includes corm rot by Phjitophthora colocasiae

Nair from Kerala (Nair & ivlenon, 1983), rot due to Corynespora cassicola (Berk. &

Curt.) Wei. I Puzari & Saik~~a, 1981). rot due to Pythium aphanidermatum (Eds.) Fitz.

(Rangaswamy & Mahadeban, 1999) and leaf and shoot rot caused by Alternaria

arnorpho~~hulli Kao (Rao. 1962).

C. 8. GINGER (Zingiber officinale Rose.)

Fam. Zingiberaceae

Mal. Inc,hi

Hindi /Idr~ik

Ginger is an erect. perennial, aromatic herb with an underground rhizome.

The aerial pseudo - stem is about 75 cm in height. Ginger is an important commercial

crop, which is grown tbr its rhizome.

Ginger 1s a native of South East Asia, cultivated as a spice and a medicine,

particularly in Kerala, Kamataka. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Himachal

Pradesh, U.I1., A.P. and Miiharashtra. India is the largest producer of dry ginger. It is

also cultivated in USA, Japan. China, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Jamaica.

Ginger is used more commonly as a condiment. It is used in making pickles.

Further it is quite popular in flavouring beverages. Ginger contains an essential oil, a

non-volatile oleoresin and gingerin. It makes a valuable drug fbr rheumatism, piles,

pulmonary disease, dropsy, neuralgia etc.

Several varieties are cultivated such as Thingpuri, Nadia, Maran,

Narasapattarn. Suprabha, Sumchi, etc. Introduced varieties are Rio - de - Janeiro and

China (Sen. 1996; Pandey. 2001). Wyanad, Mananthavady, Valluvanad, Eranad

(Kumppampadi) are cultivated in Kerala (Anujan, 1979).

A few fungal diseases are reported from ginger. They are

Dry black rot

This disease is caused by Mrmnoniella zingiberis Vasant Rao. The green

rhizomes are infected resul~ting in the shrinkage and loss of weight (Rao, 1963, 1964).

Sharma and Josh1 (1976) reported this disease from Madhya Pradesh too.

Soft Rot

This is a common disease of ginger, wherever it is cultivated. It is a pre-

harvest as well as post harvest disease. Infected plants fail to produce rhizome, the

stored rhizome becomes discoloured and gradually decomposes forming a watery

mass of pu t r i~ ing tissue. Three species of Pythium, viz. P. aphanidermatum (Eds.)

Fitz., P. myriorylum Drechs. and P, vexans de Bary are attributed as causal

organisms of this disease. .4niong these P, aphanidermatum (Eds.) Fitz. is the most

important onc (Sundaram, 1955; Nair & Menon, 1983). Rot due to

P. aphanidrrmtrtum (Eds.) Fitz. and P. deliensr Meura is known from M.P. (Haware

& Joshi, 1974, 1976). Dohroo (1993) reported rhizome rot due to P. ultimum Throw.

Different sprcices of Pj~thium are also reported from West Bengal and Meghalaya

(Mandal. 1981). Pj~thiurn specices, viz. P. graminicolum Subram. from Gujarat,

P. burleri Subram. from South India are also recorded (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Cottony rot

Cottony rot is causeti by Fusurium specices, Mehrotra (1952) reported cottony

rot due to b' soluni (Mart ) Sacc. from U.P. and from West Bengal (Dasgupta &

Mandal, 1989). Kao (1964) reported this disease from Maharashtra, the causal agents

are F. roseum [,ink. and 6; oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et Hans. Dohroo

(2001) observed this disease in Himachal Pradesh caused by F.oxysporum Schl ex Fr.

Haware et 111. ( 1974) reported this disease from M.P. and from West Bengal (Mandal

& Dasgupta, 1981). Yang rr ul, (1988) identified F. oxysporum Schl. ex Fr. and

F. solani (Mart.) Sacc. from the infected rhizome in South Korea.

Other storage diseases include creepy white rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

Sacc. from 1J.P. (Mehrotra. 1952; Haware & Joshi, 1973; Bilgrami er al, 1979),

Maharashtra (Rao. 1964). from West Bengal and Meghalaya (:Mandal, 1981), grey

rot due to Trichurus spirur'i.~ Hasselbring from M.P. and red rot due to Nectria

invcntu Pethyr. from M . P . (Sharma & Joshi, 1976), internal dry rot caused by

Botryodiplodi~r lhrohromur Sacc. from Kerala (Wilson & Balgopal, 1971), rot due to

VerticiNi~tm chlrrrn~dospor~mz Goddard. from Himachal Pradesh (Dohroo, 2001) are

post harvest in origin. Rhizome rot due to C,'urvulariu lunata (Wakk.) Boed. from

M.P., dry rot due to Diplotlia natalmsi.~ P.Evans, Macrophominclphaseolina (Tassi.)

Goid. from Kerala and rhizome rot due to Rhizopus oryzae Went. & Prinsen from

U.P. are also recorded (Muk.erji & Bhasin, 1986).

C. 9. POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Fam. Solanaceae

Mal. 1Jrulunkizhungu

Hindi Alu

Potato is an annual herb, reproduced vegetatively by tubers, which are

underground stems. Potato is one of the most important food crops of the world.

It is believed to be a native of South America and is now grown in many

countries including India, IJSSR, Poland. West Germany, France, USA, U.K.,

Czechoslovakia and China. Potato was brought to India in the 17" century. In India

the tubers are consumed as a vegetable. Potato tubers are rich in carbohydrates,

proteins and t8t. Tubers are used for the production of starch and industrial alcohol.

Potato chips made from fresh tubers are very much liked by people.

Improved varieties cultivated in the country are Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri

Chamatkar. Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Jyothi, Kufri Laukar, Kufri Dewa, Kufri

Badshah and Kufri Bahau. The old varieties under cultivation are Satha, Gola,

Phulwa, Up to Date. Darjeeling Red Round. President etc.(Sen, 1996; Pandey, 2001).

'The potato is susceptible to a great many diseases, some of which are

widespread while others are localized (Kulkarni et a / , 1995; Khurana et al, 1996).

The causal agents of these diseases include bacteria, h g i , viruses, phytoplasma,

viroids and nematodes. About 50 diseases are caused by fungi in USA. Pre - harvest

and post harvest diseases reported in potato are

Phytophthora rot

This disease is due to different specices of Phytophthora especially

P. infestan.\ (Mont.) de Bary which infects the tuber in the soil causing dry rot and

brown discolouration oftir.sues. In wet soils the tuber may rot quickly at which time a

watery ooze is developecl (Dastur. 1948). Besides P, infestans (Mont.) de Bruy,

P. parusitictr Dast. and I ' himalayensis Dast. are reported from Himalayan ranges

(Sohi, 1982 ). Rao ( 1 964) reported this disease caused by P. parasitica Dast. from

Maharashtr~.

Brown rot

Brown rot is a pre-harvest disease mostly confined to leaves, sometimes it

affects tubers near the soiil surface, causing brown discolouration and dry rot, and at

times affects the petiole also. The tuber infection is carried to the storage godowns

resulting in considerable tiamage (Sohi,1982). The causal agent is Alternaria solani

(Ell. & Mart.) Jones & Grout.

Black scurf

Rlack scurf of potato is caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. This disease

originates in the field affecting the whole plant. The infected plants are killed and the

tubers rot which continues in storage also (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999).

Charcoal rot

This disease takes, place through the stolon and spreads to the tuber. The

causal agent is identified as Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. (Rangaswamy

& Mahadevan. 1999).

Dry rot

1)q rot is another storage disease originating in the field. This disease is

caused by specices of F',usrrrium, viz. I;. trichothecoides Wollenw., F. radicicola

Wollenw and F.. coeruleurn (Lib.) Sacc. (Carpenter, 1915; Mann & Nagpurkar, 1920;

Ajrekar & Kamat, 1923; 'Tandon & Aganval, 1956; Rao, 1964). This disease is also

known from S.R. Slovenia caused by F. avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc., F. graminearurn

Schwabe. b'. .sumhucinum Fuck.. solani (Mart.) Sacc. and F. lateritium Nees.

They infect the seed potato also (Savor, 1984; Savor & Macek, 1994). Rangaswamy

and Mahadevan (1999) citcd dry rot due to '. oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et

Hans.., F redolens Wollenw also cause dry rot of tubers. Tuber rot due to

Gilmanielki humicolu Barron from H . P . is also reported (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

Powdery scab

This disease causes extensive damage to the tubers causing dry rot in storage

due to Spongo.sporu .szrh/l?rraneu (Walb.) Lagerh. (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan,

1999).

Sclerotium wilt or tuber rot due to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is a disease of

tropics and sub tropics. It is serious on potatoes in certain areas. In India this diseases

is reported from Karnataka (Anahosur & Kulkami, 1997), Maharashtra, M.P.and

Tamil Nadu (Somani & Chauhan, 1996). Tuber rot due to species of Verticillium is

also reported (Rangaswamy & Mahadevan, 1999).

Black dot of stem and root rot caused by Collerorrichum arramentarium

(Berk. & B r ) .laub. is known from Bihar and U.P., dry rot due to Cylindrocarpon

tonkinense Bugnicourt from U.P., rot caused by Pythium artobogus (Mont.) de Bary

from W. Bengal and Meghalaya, soft rot due to Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer from

Delhi, silver scurf due to .Spondylocludium atrovirens Harz. from Tamil Nadu and

West Bengal. potato wart caused by Synchytrium endohioticzrm (Schilb.) Percival

are also recorded (Mukerji & Hhasin, 1986).

C. 10. YAMS / WHITE YAM (Dioscorea alata L.)

Fam. Dioscoreaceae

Mal. Kachll

Hindi Khumalu i ('hupri ulu

Yams belong to the genus Dioscorea of the family, Dioscoreaceae. They are

climbing or twining herbs. usually cultivated throughout India. The underground

stems are useful. The); are supposed to be natives of South East Asia.

Specices of Dioscorea have been cultivated chiefly for their starch containing

tubers which arc used as vegetable. They make the cheap food for millions of people

all over the world. ?'hey are also used to feed the livestock. About 50 species are

found in India. D. trlurtr L.. which is cultivated in all states of India for edible

purposes and tor extractiosn of starch from the tubers on a commercial scale. It is

considered ;intihelminthic and useful tbr leprosy, piles and gonorrhoea.

Certain non-edible species provide diosgenin, the raw material for industrial

production of cortico-steroid drugs, including cortisone, which is regarded very

valuable for treating a number of diseases and also for use in oral contraceptives.

Among these species. L). compo.situ Hemsl. and D. Joribunda Mart. & Gal. from

Central America and D. ,deiroidea Wall. ex Kunth. and D. prazeri Prain. & Bwk.

from the Himalayas are very important on account of the higher diosgenin content of

the tubers(Sen, 1996: Pantley, 2001 ).

A few diseases by fungi are reported from India.

Dry rot

Dq rot is a storage disease causing considerable damage. The infected tubers

become hard and much lighter in weight. The causal organism is Penicillium

sclerotigenum Yamamoto (Nair & Menon, 1983). This disease is also reported from

U.P. (Agarwal & Gupta. 1973).

Brown rot

Brown rot is caused by Bo~rpodiplodia theobromae Sacc, is a serious disease

noted from Brazil. Ghana. Ivory Coast. Nigeria and Fiji (Coursey & Booth, 1972)

and Rajasthan (Prasad & Bhatnagar. 1970).

Other fungal dise,ases are tuber rot due to Curvularia eragrostids (P. Henn.)

Meyer. (Borborua & Medhi, 1979) and hsurium solani (Mart.) Sacc. ( S h m a &

Chatterjee, 1982). Rot due to Alternuria tamarri, Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.)

Goid., Hendrr.ronula rorlrloideu, Nattrass Botryodiplodia theobromae Sacc.,

Fusarium sp.. A.spergill~u niger V. Tiegh., Penicillium oxalicum Cunie & Thom.,

P. .rcleroiigenum Yamamoto and RosrNinia bunodoes (Berk. & Br.) Sacc. are

reported from Nigeria (Adenji, 1970: Coursey & Booth 1972). Anthracnose due to

Collelotrichirm cupsici (Syd.) Butl. & Bisby, C. gloeosporoides Penz. and

C. g1oeosporoide.s Penz. f. ulatu Singh and Prasad is known from Rajasthan (Prasad

& Singh. 1960). White rot due to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. reported from Maharashtra

(Mukerji & Bhasin 1986 I.

UNDER UTILIZED

FRUITS

PART - D

POST HARVEST FUNGAL DISEASES OF

UNDER UTILlZED FRUITS

This part deals with the less known, under utilized and under-exploited fruits

of Kerala, a state having tropical climate, with several fruits of direct and indirect

utility. There are several lesser known fruits which have nutritional, medicinal and

industrial values. Only recently it is found that the extracts of pot-tamarind are useful

in the treatment of rheumatism and obesity. "Cashew Apple" is effectively utilized in

Goa for the manufacture of i~lcoholic beverages likefenny. These fruits act as carriers

of certain fungal pathogens causing severe damage to the marketable fruits. So these

fruits are considered along with the fruits and vegetables of major economic

importance. Most of these fruits contain very valuable minerals, vitamins, alkaloids

etc. and can be substituted for other fruits in the market.

D. I. BLACK PLUM I JAMBOLANA (Eugenia jatnbolana Lamk.)

Fam. Myrtaceae

Mal. Njavtrl puzham

Hindi Jamboru /.lambu

Jambolana is a large tree cultivated throughout India, belongs to the family

Myrtaceae. The fruits are edlble. They are rich in iodine. A vinegar is prepared from

the fruit juice. A spirituous liquor as well as a wine is prepared from the ripe fruits.

'The fruits are also used for making preserves, jams, squashes and jellies (Sen, 1999;

Pandey, 2001 ).

A few diseases are reported. Wadia and Manoharachary (1982) reported the

following diseases of jambolan from A.P

Black rot due to .4spergiNus niger V. Tiegh., anthracnose due to

C'olletotrichum gleosporoiu%.s I'enz. and Pestalotiopsis palmarum (Cooke) Stey.,

sunken circular rot caused by Curvuluriu lunutu (W&.) Boed., cottony rot due to

Fusarium semitectum Berk. & Rav., Blue mould rot due to Pt!niciNium expansum

Link. Stingy brown rot due to Rhizopus stolon~fer Ehr. ex Fr. is reported from U.P.

(Mukerii & Bhasin. 1986).

Madhukar (1988) made extensive study of the fungal diseases of jambolana in

the sub - urban areas and fru~t markets of Warrangal, Andra Pradesh. The post harvest

diseases reported are

Altemaria rot

Aspergillus rot

Chaeromium rot

Cladosporium rot

Curvularia rot

Drechslera rot

Lasidiplodia rot

Penicilliurn rot

Anthracnose

Soft rot

Alternuria irlternata (Fr.) Keissl.

Aspergillusflavus Link. ex Fr.

A. niduluns (Eidam.) Wingate

A. niger V. Tiegh.

A. terreus Thorn.

C'huetornium globosum Kunz. & Schm.

C'ludr,sporium spaerospermum Penz.

C'urvularia lunatu (Wakk.) Boed.

C', pullescer~s Boed.

Drechslera state of Coch1iobol;us spicifer Nelson

Lu.sidiplodia theobromae (Pat .) Griff. & Maubl.

Penicilliurn oxalicum Currie. & Thorn.

Pe.stulotiopsis sp.

Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind.

D. 2. CARAMBOLA. (Averrohoa carambola L. &A. bilimbi L.)

Fam. Oxalidaceae IAverrhoaceae

Mal. Irumbun Puli

Hindi Kumruk

Carambola is a medium size shrubby tree belongs to the family Oxalidaceae.

Fruits are edible. It is a native of South-Eastem Asia. It is cultivated throughout

India. The fruits are acidic. They are eaten raw or cooked with sugar. Chutney is

prepared from i t . The fruits are also used in compotes, jellies. jams, preserves and

pickles, also sliced and used in salads. For culinary preparation they are made into

stews, curries, puddings and tarts. Sweeter frults are eaten as dessert.

A. bilimhi L. is largely found in Kerala. They are used like carambola. Used in

pickling, making chutney and in curry. The fruits are cylindrical, 5 cm long and

pulpy. The fruit is sour when green, but loses some of its acidity when ripe. The juice

has antichlorestrolic activities also (Sen, 1999; Pandey, 2001).

Anthracnuse

This is a serious disease of carambola reported from Delhi, West Bengal and

Meghalaya (Srivastava & landon 1964; Bilgrami et ul, 1979; Mandal, 1981). This

disease is prevalent in the field as well as semi ripe to ripe fruits. The causal agent is

Colletotrichum gleosporoides Penz. It is recorded from U.P. also (Mukerji & Bhasin,

1986).

Banded rib rot

'This 1s a common d~sease reported earlier as due to species of Phomopsis

from U.P. (Snvastava e/ 01, 1964). Mandal and Dasgupta (1981, 1984) reported this ' ' disease from West Bengal They identified the causal agent as Phomopsis averrhoae

sp. nov. The Infection IS more on the sides of the rib, causing shrinkage of the fruit

skin.

Sunken brown rot

This dlsease is caused by Pes/ulotiop.sis palmarum (Cooke) Stey. reported

from U.P. (Mukerji & Bhasin., 1986).

Fruit rot due to ~llfr~rnariu lenurs Nees (=A. alternufa (Fr.) Keissl.) and

Bofryodiplodru theohromur Pat. are recorded from U.P. (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986).

Tandon & Kakkar (1964) reported fruit rot of carambola caused by Trichothecium

roseum Link

D. 3. CASHEW APPLE (Anocardium occidentale L.)

Fam. Anacardiaceae

Mal. K~rshumungu

Hindi Kuju

Cashew nut belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. The tree is evergreen,

spreading more or less straggling and it attains a height of 10 to 12 m. It has a

curious-looking fruit. The fleshy portion is known as "Cashew Apple", which in

reality, the swollen peduncle and disc and the fruit proper is the attached kidney-

shaped nut. The apple is 5.0 - 8.5 cm long and has a thin skin, which is bright

yellowish or scarlet coloured and with soft juicy flesh.

Cashew nut is believed to be a native of West Indies and is understood to have

been introduced in India from South America. The plant has spread throughout the

tropical low lands of south and Central America, Mexico and West Indies. It is now

found in India, Sri Lanka, IMalayasia and Andaman Islands. The plant is grown both

for the fruit and the nut, particularly for the latter.

The crop is cultivated in India in about 5 lakh hectares, chiefly along the coast

in the Peninsular region. Cashew growing states are Kerala, A.P., Tamil Nadu,

Karnataka and Maharashtra

The kemal is eaten as table nuts, used in bakery products and confectionery.

The cashew apple juice is medicinal and an alcohol is prepared hy the fermentation. It

is used as a squash also. Tht: unripe cashew apple is used as a vegetable.

High yielding varieties have been developed by research centres in India. The

improved varieties are BPP - 4, BPP - 6, VRI - 2, V - 1, V - 4, WBDC - V, T. No. 40,

BPP-2, BLA39-4. VRI- 1. IJllal - 2 . K-22 - I , N D R 2 - 1.

Cashew apple liquor is a unique liquor obtained from the excessive distillation

of fennented cashew apple juice. In Goa cashew liquor is c:ommonly known as

"Fenny". Cashew apple contains sugar in the form of glucose, proteins, malic acid,

tannin, calcium, phosphorous pentoxide and vitamin C and from nutritional and

medicinal point of view it is considered as one of the best h i t s , each fruit giving

about 35 calories. The cashew liquor 1s produced under brand name 'NANORA' and

'BAKDEZ'. A half peg of cashew liquor with fresh lemon juice, sugar, ice and

aerated water makes an excellent drink during hot season. It quenches thirst, gives

relief and comfort and acts as an appetizer (Sen, 1999; Pandey, 2001).

Cashew fruits are at'fected by fungi like Colletofrichurn mangijierae Kelkar,

Phomopsis sp. and Endomyces anarurdii de Mello from Kerala (Nayar 1979; Pillai,

1984) and from Goa (Mukt:rji & Bhasin, 1986).

Fruit decay caused by Atelosaccharomyces moachoi de Mello and

Parasacchuromyces gigan,feus de Mello are known from Goa (Mukeji & Bhasin,

1986).

D. 4. CEYLON OLIVE ,' VALIYA KARA (Eloeocarpus serratus (L.) W . & A.)

Fam. Elaeocarpaceae

Mal. Kurakkcl

It is an evergreen tree grown for its edible fruits. The ripe green fruits are used

in pickling and making chutney. The ripe fruits are consumed raw. The pulp of green

fruits is sour, but of ripe h i t is sweet.

So far no fungal diseases have been reported from this fruit. (Bilgrami et al,

1979, 198 1, 199 1 ; Hosagoutiar et al, 1996).

Leaf spot diseases were reported on various specices of Elaeocarpus like

E. mutzroi Mast., E ohlon~;us Gaertn. and E. tuberculafus Roxb. Asterosromella

indica Rao & Anahousur a n ~ i (ladosporium sp. is known in E. oblongus. Tar spot is

noticed in E . munroi and E, oblongus caused by Cafacauma (= Phyllachora)

elaeocarpi Ramakr. & Ramtakr, and P ugharkarii Tilak (Mukeji & Bhasin, 1986).

D. 5. EGG FRUIT (Lucuma nervosa L. )

Fam. Sapotaceae

Mal. Mu~ruppuzhum

It is a medium sized tree grown for its edible fruit. The ripe fruits are with

yellowish yolk like edible pulp which has a taste of egg yolk and mildly sweet. The

fruits are comparatively free from diseases. So for no report has been made on post

harvest diseases of this plant (Bilgrami el ul, 1979, 1981, 1991; Mukeji & Bhasin

1986; Hosagoudar el ul, 1906).

D. 6. HOG PLUM (Spondiaspinnata (L. f) Kurz. )

( = S mangiferu Willd.)

Fam. Anacardiaceae

Mal. Amhuzhunga

Hindi Amrir

Hog plum 1s a tree of medium size which is cultivated in Punjab, Maharashtra,

Bengal, Assam. U.P. and Kerala, for its edible fruit. Green immature fruits are used in

the preparation of chutney, is also used in the preparation of fish cuny. The fruits are

also used in medicine. The rlpe fruits of' some fibreless varieties are edible. Fruits are

used in pickling and preserved by salting (Sen, 1999; Pandey, 2001).

A few fungal diseases of bog plum are reported from India.

Coppery brown rot

This disease affects the young and semi-ripe fruits, the causal agent is

Cylindrocludium purvum Anderson This disease is reported by Mandal and Dasgupta

(1978. 1983) from West Bengal.

Pedicel end rot

This is a serious disease of hog plum reported from West Bengal caused by

Botryodiplodiu theobromae F'at. (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981) and the affected fruits

drop prematurely.

Cottony White rot

Cottony white rot is caused by Fustrrium solani (Mart.) Sacc. reported by

Mandal and llasgupta ( 198 1 ) from West Bengal. The fruits rot and emit a foul smell.

Several specices of AspergiNus cause fruit rot of hog plum. Yellow soft rot

due to A. aculecrrus Tiz. anti it. niger V. Tiegh. is reported from U.P. (Srivastava &

Tandon, 1968) and West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981). Green mould rot is

due to .A. Jluvus link. ex Fr. is known from West Bengal (Mandal & Dasgupta, 1981).

D. 7. NUTMEG (Myristicnfi.agrans Houtt.)

Fam. Myristicaceae

Mal. Juihrkkcc

Hindi Juiphui

Nutmeg is a medium sized tree belongs to the family Myristicaceae. The fruit

is the source of the 'nutmeg' and 'mace' of commerce and both are used as spices.

The tree 1s a native of Moluccas islands but now grown in Tamil Nadu,

Kerala, Kamataka, Assam and West Bengal.

Nutmeg oil is used internally for rheumatism and is also used in soap and

perfume industries. The essential oil obtained from the leaves, is toxic to weeds, and

is used in the preparation of chewing gums, flavouring essences and cosmetics. The

nutmeg and mace are used as condiments in food preparations. The pericarp of the

fruit is used in pickling. Undersized immature kernels are used to prepare nutmeg

butter (Sen, 1999: Pandey, 2001).

A few fungal diseases of nutmeg fruits are reported.

An unusual type of fiuit-rot is noticed in several gardens at Kalady, Kerala,

caused by Thie1uviopsi.s puroduxa (de Seynes) Hoehn. The fruit as well as the aril

enveloping the kemal are infected whereas no other part of the plant are infected.

(Rao & Varghese, 1976).

Another very common fruit rot disease from Kerala is reported by Nair and

Menon (1983) The infection starts with half mature fruits. The affected fruits fall

prematurely Rotting of the fruit is so deep and the mace is also infected. The causal

agent is Diplodiu natalensrs P. Evans.

A fruit rot disease is also reported from java. The disease cause premature

bursting and dropping of the fruits. The causal agent is Coryneum myristicae (Nair &

Menon, 198.1).

D. 8. PASSlON FRUIT (Passgora edulis Sims.)

Fam. Passifloraceae

Mal. Pussionfruir

Hindi ./humku IUIU

Passion fruit is a sh~ubby vine belongs to the family, Passifloraceae. The fruit

is about 5 cm in diameter.

It is a native of Brazil. In India it is cultivated in U.P., Punjab and Tamil

Nadu.

The fru~ts are edible. It is used as a table fruit and in sherbets, candy and

beverages. It bears two types of fruits, yellow and purple, however the yellow ones

have inferior flavour. Juice is highly acidic and is preserved for use in blends with

less acidic fruit juices and in the preparation of squashes, cordials, syrups, carbonated

beverages, jellies etc. It is also used for flavouring candy, ice-creams, cake fillings

etc. Passion fruit juice concentrates and powders are also prepared. Juice has been

successfully spin-pasteurized. Peels can be used for recovery of pectin, as stock feed

and manure (Sen. 1999; Pandey, 200 1 ) .

Pruthi et u l (1958) reported a few fungal diseases from Karnataka on passion

fruit. The pathogens are Penicil2ium expansum Link., AspergiNus niger V. Tiegh.,

Fusarium oxy5porum (Schl. ex Fr.) em. Snyd. et Hans. and Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr.

ex Fr.) Lind.

D. 9. PHYLLANTHUS (PhyNanthus acridus Skeel.)

Fam. Euphorbiaceae

Mal. NeNippuli

It is a small tree producing sour edible fruits. The fruits are used in the

preparation of chutney and in pickling.

So far no fungal diseases are reported from this fruit (Bilgrami et al, 1979,

1981,1991 : Hosagoudar rr ul. 1996).

Leaf spot due to (bllerorrichum sp. and Glomerella phyllanthi Pai are

reported from Poona, Maharashtra (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

D. 10. POT TAMARIND (Garcinia gambogea Desr.)

Fam. Guttiferae 1 Clusiac:eae

Mal. Kudumpuli

It is an evergreen large tree producing edible fruits. The dried pericarp of the

fruit is used as a condiment in the preparation of fish cuny. An extract of the fruits is

prepared which is medicinal and used in the treatment of rheumatism and obesity.

The pulp ot'the fruit is juicy and sweet.

So far no fungal diseases has been reported from this fruit (Bilgrami et al,

1979, 198 1. 1991 ; Hosagoudar et al, 1 996).

Leaf spot diseases: caused by Aecidium garciniae Sund. & Rao, Cercospora

vismicola Chupp. from K~unataka and Septoria sp. from Maharashtra are reported in

G. indicu Choisy. Leaf spot disease due to Pesfalotia sp. firom West Bengal and

Phyllo.sficfina rverni Syd. from U.P. are diseases reported in G. livingstonei

T. Anders. Black spot on leaves of Ci. mangosfana Linn. due to Asferina garciniae

Hansf. is also known (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

D. 11. ROSE APPLE. ~(Eugenia javanica L.)

( = Syzigium samuranganse (Bl.) Men. Perry)

Fam. Myrtaceae

Mal. ('humhukku

Hindi C'ulub jumun

Rose Apple is a shrub as well as medium sized tree grown for its edible fruit.

Different varieties are grown, which produce rose as well as white fruits of varying

shape. The fruits have a little sour taste. The ripe fruits are edible, used for making

jams. It is cultivated in Assam, A.P.. M.P., Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and

Kerala.

Fruit rot due to several fungi is reported from rose apple.

Mandal and Dasyupta (1981, 1983) reported pink rot due to Aspergillus

aculearus Tiz.. soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer Ehr. ex Fr. and Curvularia

lunata (Wakk.) Boed. from 'West Bengal.

Fruit rot due to .4sj~ergillus niger V.Tiegh., Colletotrichum gloeosporoides

Penz., C'urv~rlariu lunalu (Wakk.) Boed., Fusarium semitectum Berk. & Rav.,

Penicillium expunsum Link. and Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr. ex Fr.) Lind. are known

from A.P. (Manoharachary Ht Rama Rao, 1989).

D. 12. TAMARIND (Tamarindus indiea I,.)

Fam. C:aesalpiniaceae

Mal. Vulunpuli

Hindi lmli

Tamarind is a large tree with dense crown belongs to the family

Caesalpiniaceae. The fruits are brown pods. 5 to 20 cm long.

It is a native of tropical Africa and Southern Asia. It is cultivated in A.P.,

Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The unripe as well as ripe fruits are used. It is used as a condiment in culinary

preparations. samba. chutney etc. Pulp contains 12% tartaric acid, as well as 30%

sugar, and so has a sour taste. Tartaric acid and its salts are extensively used in

various foods, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries.

The seeds are the source of jellose, which is used as a sizing material in the

conon and jute industries. The polyose obtained from the seeds is good substitute for

fruits. The seeds are used a:; cattle feed (Sen, 1999; Pandey, 2001).

Rati and Ramalingsun (1972) reported yellow mould rot of tamarind due to

Aspergillus flai~us Link.

Leaf spot diseases are reported from different parts of India, caused by

Bartalinia rohil1ardioidr.c 'Tassi., Exosporium tamarindi Syd., Hendersonula

lamarindi Syd.. Pesrulofiu poonensis Rao. Phyllosticta tamurindicola Rao and

P. tamarindu Chandra & l'andon (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

D. 13. WEST INDlAN CHERRY 1 KARANDA (Carissa carandas L.)

Fam. Apocynaceae

Mal. ('berry

Hindi ('ur~mticr

Karanda is a spiny shrub belongs to the family Apocynaceae found

throughout India. It is a native of South Africa. The fruits are pinkish white, eaten

raw or cooked or used for jellies and preserves. The fruits are quite acidic and used

for preparing chutney and pickles.

The fungal diseases reported are

Anthracnose

Anthracnose of karanda is reported from U.P. caused by Pestulotiopsis

versicolor (Speg.) Stey. (Shivkumar & 1 andon, 1982).

Brown rot

This d~sease is due to specices of Aspergillus, A. awumori Noka. and A. niger

V. Tiegh. are reported from Agra, U.P. (Garg & Gupta, 1980).

Black rot due to illrernariu ulternuta (Fr.) Keissl. and fruit rot due to

Fusarium smii/ecrum Berk.& Rav. and Myrothecium roridum ?'ode. ex Fr. are also

known from lnd~a ( (Mukerji & Bhasin, 1986).

COLLECTION CENTRES

Thiru

gazhakkoottom

KERALA STATE