SYMPTOMS AS AN IDENTIFICATION KEY FOR POST HARVEST DISEASES OF GUAVA

Abstract

The guava fruits are attacked by several types of fungi, bacteria and other agents during storage period causing different types of disease symptoms. Especially the injured guavas are more susceptible to disease that gets infected by fungal forms. Injury occurs during transportation and storage periods. Over 25 to 30 per cent loss of fruits are caused by fungal diseases in transit and storage. The common fungal forms easily penetrate into injured fruits in godown during storage period. The mycoflora isolated from infected fruits of guava collected from fruit store houses was Alternaria, Aspergillus, Colletotrichum, and Curvularia. Fusarium, Monilia, Penicillium, Pestalotia, Phytopthora and Rhizopus as noted in table. Each post-harvest fungus causes a particular type of symptoms. Different types of symptoms caused by post-harvest fungi observed and noted in table.