IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI CAUSED POSTHARVEST FRUIT ROT ON LOCAL APPLE

Abstract

The percentage of perished local apples caused by decay fungi in Baghdad markets was estimated, and the causal fungi of postharvest decay of local apples were isolated . The most effective fungi that cause fruit decay was also detected. Results showed that percentage of perished local apples caused by decay fungi in Baghdad markets was 43.2% in the period from 1-6-2004 to 20-8-2004, and revealed that Rhizopus stolonifer ,Penicillium sp.,Mucor piriformis, Phytophthora citrophthora, and Alternaria alternata caused local apple fruits decay in markets as well as in storage as was manifested by the results of the pathogenicity tests on apple fruits. The implecation of P.citrophthora as a causal pathogen of apple fruits decay under storage conditions is considered as the first record of this species as a causing agent of apple fruits decay in storage . R. stolonifer was the most frequent among the fungi isolated from decayed fruits either in local markets or storages.M.piriformis more frequent in storage samples than that in markets,so that with A.alternata. Pathoginicity experments showed that non of the fungi : Fusarium spp. , Curvularia spp., Aspergillus flavus , A. niger which were isolated from decayed apple fruits were pathogenic on apples.