Survey and epidemiological study of post harvest rot of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) caused by Aspergillus niger (Tiegh Sacc.).

The comprehensive survey were carried out during August 2013 to February 2014 for occurrence of fruit rot in market of Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan. The disease was observed in moderate to severe level and the maximum incidence of 20 to 24% found during August to September 2013 and minimum incidence of 5 to 10% observed during January to February 2014 in markets. Aspergillus niger cause infection during flowering time and where the fungus becomes latent 3 to 4 months and at ripening time, the fungus started growing and invade the arils as well as insect and mechanical injury also helpful in rotting of fruits. The pathogen were studied for their cultural and morphological characteristics like colour (initially white & later black to dark brown) colony growth, growth pattern, margin (regular & irregular) topography, zonation, pigmentation, sporulation and microscopic measurements of hyphal width, length and width of cell, conidiophores, conidia and columella. In vitro epidemiological studies on inoculated fruits showed the maximum rotting were found at 30º to 35º C and relative humidity up to 90% and played a vital role in the development and spread of fruit rot pathogen.