Fusarium spp.에 의한 수확 후 참외 열매썩음병

Abstract

Fusarium spp. were isolated from the postharvest fruit rot of oriental melon fruits at commercial fruit markets in Korea during 2001 to 2003. The decayed fruits were covered with the fungal mycelia and eventually soft rotted. The disease started at the fruit stalk area, the calyx end of the fruit and skin of fruit. As the disease advanced, white to pinkish mycelia covered with the surface of decayed fruit. The cultural and morphological characteristic of Fusarium spp. were compared with descriptions of those reported previously, and identified as Fusarium equiseti, F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, F. sambucinum, and F. semitectum. Pathogenicity of the isolates was proved by artificial wound and unwound inoculation onto the healthy fruits. Two days after inoculation, aerial mycelia were noticed on the wound inocultion region of the fruit and developed soft rot symptoms. Although Fusarium spp. causing fruit rot disease in oriental melon have been reported in Korea, identification of the those species was not described. Therefore, this is the first report of Fusarium spp. causing postharvest fruit rot on oriental melon in Korea.