FRUITS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUNGAL INFECTIONS

A fruit spot, is a symptom of plant disease, usually caused by fungi. These spots frequently
enlarge and merge to form a rot, a softening discoloration and often a disintegration of tissue. All fruits
are susceptible to fungal infection, this commonly starts at a wound, the stem end, or the undersides. In
dealing with fresh fruits as food materials it is important to recognize that these are living tissues and
fungal infection in fruit tissues requires that the fungi overcome barriers that plants have evolved. Fruits
with low pH level are more susceptible to spoilage caused by fungi.

According to a research, fresh fruits like Fragaria x ananassa (strawberries) are susceptible to a
specific fungi called Botrytis cinerea (grey mold). This fungi has a wide host range and may cause
spoilage to fruits other than like Vitis vinifera (grapes), Actinidia deliciosa (kiwi), Pyrus (pears), Prunus
persica (peaches), Prunus domestica (plums), and Prunus avium (cherries).

Among the most commonly encountered species causing spoilage of fruit are Penicillium
italicum is a fungi that commonly causes the rotting of citrus fruits like Citrofortunella microcarpa
(Calamansi) (blue rot and green rot). Penicillium expansum also causes the blue rot found on Malus
domestica (apples) and Pyrus (pears). Penicillia also attacks Vitis vinifera (grapes) during storage.

Fungi like Rhizopus stolonifer and Mucor piriformis are responsible for the rapid decay of soft
fruits such as Rubus idaeus (raspberries) and Rubus x loganobaccus (loganberries). M. piriformis has
been described as a destructive pathogen of Fragaria x ananassa (Snowden 1990, 1991) and a number of
species of Rhizopus, especially Rhizopus sexualis, are pathogenic to Fragaria x ananassa causing a soft
rot (Harris and Dennis 1980). The author has personal experience of soft rot of Malus domestica and
Pyrus that are stored which is caused by a species of Mucor and M. piriformis (Caccioni and Guizzardi
1992). Both Rhizopus and Mucor can cause serious losses of Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes).

Fruits that have sweet, succulent flesh and hard, stonelike pits like Prunus armeniaca (apricots),
Prunus avium, Prunus persica var. nucipersica (nectarines), Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, and
Prunus (prune) are the fruits that are most susceptible to Coryneum blight (shothole).
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Hansen, J. (n.d.). Prevent and Control Fungal Disease in Fruit and Vegetable Gardens. Retrieved
November 13, 2019, from - https://www.gardentech.com/blog/pest-id-and-prevention/prevent-and-
control-fungal-disease-in-fruit-and-vegetable-gardens.

Moss, M. O. (2008, January 23). Fungi, Quality and Safety Issues in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
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2672.2007.03705.x#b5.

Moss, M. O. (2008, January 23). Fungal Spoilage of Fruits and Vegetables. Retrieved November 13,
2019, from - https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03705.x.