Isolation and identification of pathogenic fungi causing postharvest fruit rot of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) in China

Abstract

AbstractKiwifruit is a very important commercial crop in China, which is the largest producer of the fruit in the world. The rapid expansion of areas of kiwifruit cultivation has resulted in the spread of postharvest rot diseases. To clarify the pathogens causing kiwifruit postharvest rots in China, 76 pure strains were isolated from 138 rotten fruits during the shelf‐life period, with fruit collected from the 11 main regions of kiwifruit cultivation (Shaanxi, Sichuan, Henan, Guizhou, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces) during 2014–2015. By examining the morphological and microscopic characteristics together with the results of pathogenicity testing and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequencing, four species were identified as the main pathogens causing kiwifruit postharvest rots in China. They were Phomopsis sp., Botryosphaeria dothidea, Alternaria alternata and Pestalotiopsis microspora, with identification rates of 52.6%, 23.7%, 13.2% and 10.5%, respectively. All isolates inoculated on wounded fruit were pathogenic but non‐pathogenic when peels were unwounded except B. dothidea. These findings have important implications for resistance breeding and control of kiwifruit postharvest rots in China.