What is Fruit Rot Disease?

About Fruit Rot Disease:

• It is a plant disease that can cause significant losses for farmers, as it can reduce the quality of the crop and make it unmarketable.
• In some cases, fruit rot can also lead to the death of the plant.
• It is caused by a number of different fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and it can be difficult to prevent and treat.
• Continuous heavy rainfall coupled with low temperature (20 to 23 °C), high relative humidity (>90%), and intermittent rain and sunshine hours favour the occurrence of fruit rot.
• Symptoms:
  • Brown or black spots on the fruit
  • Softening of the fruit
  • Shrivelling of the fruit
  • Mould growth on the fruit
• Many different types of fungi can cause fruit rot, but the most common type is Botrytis cinerea.
• This fungus affects a wide range of fruits, including grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers.
• The fungus enters the plant through wounds in the leaves or fruit lesions, and it proliferates in humid conditions.
• Once established, the fruit infections can spread rapidly through the crop, causing rot.
• The fungi that cause fruit rot can also produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals.