Post-Harvest Fruit Rot on Muskmelon (Cucumis Melo) Caused by Acremonium Potronii in Iraq

Abstract

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) is a vital fruit vegetable thriving in arid and warm climates. Fruit rot is a prevalent issue affecting muskmelon, occurring frequently in fields before harvest and during post-harvest stages. Several pathogenic fungi have been identified as the primary causal agents of fruit rot. In the present study, muskmelon fruits displaying irregular white regions were collected from the Penjwen district, Kurdistan region of Iraq. The isolated causal agent was identified as Acremonium potronii based on both phenotypic characteristics and molecular analysis (ITS and LSU gene sequences). A pathogenicity test was conducted to fulfill Koch’s postulates. This represents the first documented association of Acremonium potronii with muskmelon fruit rot.