Abstract
In this study Penicillium implicatum was found to be the cause of postharvest rot of stored pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit. Rot symptom was observed on pomegran- ate fruit as small,sunken, circular to oval, dark brown necrotic spots. Infected fruit tissues were cultured on malt extract agar (MEA), Czapek (Cz), Czapek yeast Agar (CYA) and G25N media at 25 °C. This fungal species was primarily character- ized by its relatively slow growth on MEA, Cz, CYA and G25N, blue-grey sporulation, forming crusts, production of a solubleyellowpigmentonthemediaandinabilitytogrowat5 and 37 °C on both Cz and MEA. Microscopically, it was characterized by its long, smooth-walled and vesiculate conidiophores and smooth ellipsoidal to ovoid, up to 3.5 μm long, conidia. The fungus was identified as P. implicatum on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy fruits under labora- tory conditions showed typical rot symptoms after 7 to 14 days. This is the first report of postharvest rot of pome- granate caused by P. implicatum in Pakistan.
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