Symptom:
- Stems and leaves - blight and wilting
- Fruit - decay appears around the stem
- Rind becomes slightly darkened, water soaked and light brown later
- Centre of the spots turn black, cracks and wrinkles
Identification of pathogen:
- Pycnidia - black and large
- When young - colourless, thick walled and one celled
- When mature - dark brown, rough walled and two celled
- Mode of survival - conidia
- Mode of spread - wind, farm implements, insects
Management:
- Scratches and bruises must be avoided
- Pre cooling after harvest
- Harvest fruits with long stems
- Cut ends painted with a fungicide paste - copper sulphate
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Watermelon dipliodia fruit rot |
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