Bitter Rot Research Articles

Sustainable and effective Chitosan-based edible films incorporated with OEO nanoemulsion against apricots’ black spot

Black spot rot caused by Alternaria alternata is one of apricots’ (Prunus armeniaca L.) main postharvest diseases. This disease has caused considerable losses during fruit storage in recent years. This study aimed to produce a safe, convenient and commercially viable film material to preserve apricots by inhibiting the growth of Alternaria alternata. Oregano essential oil (OEO) has a good inhibitory effect on Alternaria alternata. In this study, OEO was added to chitosan-based films in the form of nanoemulsions acquired through ultrasonic emulsification to prolong its antifungal effect. The influence of the OEO concentration (2%, 4%, 6% (w/v)) and ultrasound time (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 min) on the stability and antifungal properties of the OEO nanoemulsions were investigated. Furthermore, the structure and properties of the chitosan-based edible films incorporated with OEO nanoemulsions (0, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% v/v) were studied. Results revealed that the 4% (w/v) OEO nanoemulsion with 20 min of ultrasound treatment exhibited the best antifungal property and emulsion stability. The chitosan film incorporated with 1% (v/v) of 4% (w/v) OEO nanoemulsion (CS-1%OEO) significantly improved the antifungal properties in vitro. The incidence of apricot inoculated with Alternaria alternata in the presence of the CS-1%OEO film was 42.86% lower than that of control (without film) at three days, indicating the effectively controlled of black spot disease on apricots. Furthermore, the safety of the CS-1%OEO film was confirmed by the zebrafish model. The results obtained in the study showed the potential of the CS-1%OEO film in the disease resistance of apricots from the black spot caused by Alternaria alternata.

Survival of pathogens after dormancy in apple tree twigs indicates potential risk as source of inoculum

Several diseases are difficult to control specially in subtropical regions and perennial hosts where the pathogen survive easily within the plant. The aim of this study was to identify which pathogens are surviving after end of one season and at the beginning of the next season to inform which pathogens represent potential risk as primary inoculum to the next season. Survival of pathogens on apple tree twigs was evaluated during dormancy and on beginning of vegetative growth in four orchards located in the two main apple production regions: Palmas and metropolitan region of Curitiba, in Paraná State, Brazil. For this purpose, 10 cm long asymptomatic twigs were collected from 10 randomly selected plants, 24 twigs per plant. Half of the twigs were left directly (without disinfection) in humid chambers for 30 days at 25ºC. The other half of the twigs were disinfected and kept in a freezer for 12 hours at -16ºC by the Over Night Freezing Incubation Technique (Onfit) and then kept in a humid chamber for 30 days at 25ºC. The fungi Colletotrichum sp., Botryosphaeria sp., Alternaria sp., and Fusarium sp. were detected in the two sampled dates and methodologies in all evaluated regions. Neonectria ditissima was only detected in both orchards from Palmas. The genera found surviving on twigs were confirmed molecularly by BLASTn and were pathogenic in wounded fruits from the cultivar ‘Gala’. Our results indicate that pathogens are surviving in orchards after winter treatment and throughout the apple season, being potential sources of inoculum for infections in flowers and fruits, where the pathogens detected cause important diseases as bitter rot, Neonectria fruit rot, white and black rots, and possibly cause Alternaria and Fusarium rots which have not been extensively studied in Brazil.

Fungicide Sensitivity of Colletotrichum Species Causing Bitter Rot of Apple in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A.

Apple growers in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.A. have reported increased losses to bitter rot of apple. We tested the hypothesis that this increase is because the Colletotrichum population has developed resistance to commonly used single-mode-of-action (single-MoA) fungicides. We screened 220 Colletotrichum isolates obtained from 38 apple orchards in the Mid-Atlantic region for resistance to 11 fungicides in Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) groups 1, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 29. Eleven (5%) of these isolates were resistant to FRAC group 1 with confirmed β-tubulin E198A mutations, and two (<1%) were also resistant to FRAC group 11 with confirmed cytochrome-b G143A mutations. Such low frequencies of resistant isolates indicate that fungicide resistance is unlikely to be the cause of any regional increase in bitter rot. A subsample of isolates was subsequently tested invitro for sensitivity to every single-MoA fungicide registered for apple in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A. (22 fungicides; FRAC groups 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 29), and 13 fungicides were tested in field trials. These fungicides varied widely in efficacy both within and between FRAC groups. Comparisons of results from our invitro tests with results from our field trials and other field trials conducted across the eastern U.S.A. suggested that EC25 values (concentrations that reduce growth by 25%) are better predictors of fungicide efficacy in normal field conditions than EC50 values. We present these results as a guideline for choosing single-MoA fungicides for bitter rot control in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A.

Rapid detection of the E198A mutation of carbendazim-resistant isolates in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides by loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Apple bitter rot is a serious agricultural disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. In recent years, carbendazim-resistant C. gloeosporioides strains bearing an E198A point mutation in the β-tubulin gene (GAG to GCG) have emerged, threatening global apple production. As such, rapidly detecting the presence of this E198A mutation in C. gloeosporioides isolates is essential in order to monitor the spread of this pathogen and to prevent outbreaks of disease. Herein, we developed a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) approach to detecting the E198A mutation in C. gloeosporioides isolates from ‘Gala’ apple samples. This optimized LAMP protocol was sufficient to establish the E198A genotype of a given isolate following a 60 min incubation at 63 °C by using four specific primers. The results of this reaction could be interpreted visually based on a fluorescent yellow-green color change upon the addition of the SYBR Green I dye, and were additionally confirmed via gel electrophoresis. Importantly, this LAMP assay was capable of rapidly and reliably detecting apples that were infected with carbendazim-resistant isolates harboring this E198A mutation. In conclusion, this LAMP assay in this study can rapidly, specifically, and sensitively detect cases of apple bitter rot caused by C. gloeosporioides isolates harboring the E198A mutation.

The Decay and Fungal Succession of Apples with Bitter Rot Across a Vegetation Diversity Gradient

Bitter rot is a disease of apple caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum. Management begins with removal of infected twigs and fruit from tree canopies to reduce overwintering inoculum. Infected apple fruit are usually tossed to the orchard floor, which is generally managed as herbicide-treated weed-free tree rows, separated by grass drive rows. We monitored decay rates and succession of fungi of apple fruit with bitter rot in tree canopies, and on the soil surface in tree rows, grass drive rows, and nearby diverse plant communities. We hypothesized that decay would occur most rapidly within diverse plant communities, which would provide a more diverse array of potential fungal decomposers. Apple fruit in tree canopies became dry and mummified and had more Colletotrichum gene marker copies the following growing season than did fruit on the soil surface. Of the soil-surface samples, those in grass drive rows and diverse plant communities had higher moisture, faster decay rates, and sharper decreases in Colletotrichum gene marker copies than apple fruit in tree rows. Fungal composition across all decaying apple fruit was dominated by yeasts, with higher genus-level richness, diversity, and evenness in fruit from tree canopies than those on the soil surface. In soil-surface apple fruit, we observed clear successional waves of Pichia, Kregervanrija, and [Candida] yeasts, with similar but distinctly diverging fungal composition. Our results show that orchard floor management can influence fungal succession in apple fruit with bitter rot but suggests that bitter rot management should primarily focus on removing infected apple fruit from tree canopies.

Integrated disease management strategies against leaf spot and root rot diseases of mungbean

Integrated disease management strategies against leaf spot and root rot diseases of mungbean

Óleo essencial de Eucalyptus staigeriana no controle de podridões fúngicas no período pós-colheita e na análise sensorial de uvas

Abstract The objective of this work was evaluate the effect of Eucalyptus staigeriana essential oil on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Greeneria uvicola mycelial growth and conidia germination on grapes, as well as its potential for the control of postharvest rot diseases and its effect on the organoleptic properties of grapes. The essential oil (EO) showed in vitro antifungal activity against both pathogens, with fungicidal effect on mycelial growth and on conidia germination at the concentrations of 1.0 and 0.5 μL mL−1, respectively. The EO volatile compounds had a fungistatic effect on the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides and a fungicidal effect on G uvicola. At postharvest, the EO reduced the incidence of ripe rot up to 75% and 86% in the preventive and curative treatments, respectively, and the incidence of bitter rot up to 54% in the curative treatment. Since the EO does not affect significantly grape sensory properties, it does not affect the consumption intention of grapes treated with the EO. The EO of E. staigeriana is efficient in the in vitro control of both pathogens; moreover, it is also efficient in the control of the incidence of postharvest fungal rot diseases, mainly in the curative treatment.

Atividade antifúngica dos óleos essenciais Baccharis trimera e Foeniculum vulgare para o controle da podridão amarga em maçã

The present study aimed was to determine the chemical composition of Baccharis trimera and Foeniculum vulgare essential oils (EOs) and their in vitro and in vivo effect against Colletotrichum fructicola, the causal agent of bitter rot in apple. Chemical composition of EOs was determined by GC-MS and their effect against C. fructicola was evaluated in vitro by mycelial growth and conidia germination and in vivo by reducing disease symptoms on postharvest apples. The major compound found in B. trimera EO was carquejyl acetate (74.71%) and in F. vulgare EO was estragole (88.47%). In the in vitro tests, B. trimera EO showed a fungistatic action, while F. vulgare EO presented fungicidal action against mycelial growth. Both EOs showed complete inhibition of conidia germination. In the in vivo assay, both EOs tested were inefficient in reducing disease severity caused by C. fructicola, in preventive and curative treatment. These results are promising and indicate that the EOs might be further investigated as a natural alternative to synthetic fungicides for apple bitter rot control due to their in vitro fungicidal effect.

Phenylethanol as a quorum sensing molecule to promote biofilm formation of the antagonistic yeast Debaryomyces nepalensis for the control of black spot rot on jujube

Microbial biocontrol agents have become an effective way to inhibit post-harvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, where antagonistic yeast with antimicrobial properties are often employed. In this study, Debaryomyces nepalensis, isolated from the leaves of jujube and identified with internal transcribed spacer sequences, can effectively control the post-harvest black spot of jujube caused by Alternaria alternate, even though it showed no direct inhibitory effects on A. alternate. Phenylethanol, as a quorum sensing molecule, was identified by HPLC to be one of the major metabolites during the culture of D. nepalensis. Phenylethanol could promote the biofilm formation ability of D. nepalensis and increase its adhesion to the surface of jujube fruit, and the control effect of 2 mmol L−1 phenylethanol combined with D. nepalensis on jujube fruit black spot was increased by 15 % compared with D. nepalensis alone. In conclusion, the results of this work provided a new perspective for improving the biological control efficiency of D. nepalensis.

Phytosanitary monitoring of the narrow-leaved lupine collection of VIR in the northwest of Russia

Background. Narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is an important high-protein forage and green manure crop, also promising for food use. This is a plastic species produced under various ecogeographic conditions and the only cultivated species of lupine adapted to high northern latitudes – up to 60° NL. Gradual expansion of lupine production areas led to the accumulation of pathogens, damage to lupine crops by harmful organisms, and significant harvest losses. Breeding and cultivating resistant varieties is the most profitable and environmentally sound way to control diseases and pests. Studying the species composition of pathogens and searching for source material are the necessary stages of plant breeding for immunity.Materials and methods. A set of 101 accessions of L. angustifolius from the VIR collection were studied in the northwest of the Russian Federation (Pushkin, St. Petersburg) in 2019, and 62 accessions from the same set in 2020. Mycological examination of the affected leaves was carried out on potato sucrose agar medium under laboratory conditions. The degree of damage to plants by diseases and infestation by pests was assessed during the period of flowering, fruit formation and ripening using point scales.Results and conclusions. A wide range of harmful organisms were identified for their negative impact on the growth and development of narrow-leaved lupine plants. The dominant pest was the lupine aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons Essig), discovered in Russia for the first time. A whole set of fungal pathogens was identified, among which the most common and harmful were the causative agents of Fusarium, brown leaf spot, powdery mildew, gray mold, and Sclerotinia stem rot. Narrow-leaved lupine accessions with weak degrees of pathogenic damage were selected.

Efficacy and Induction Resistance of Neem Extract and Mancozeb 80 Wp on Physoderma Brown Spot and Physoderma Stalk Rot Diseases of Corn (Zea mays) caused by Physoderma Maydis in Far North Cameroon

Corn (Zea mays) is one of the most widely spread cereals in the world. However, in the Far North Region of Cameroon, the incidence of some maize diseases progress because of farming practices and climate change (rainfall). This work aims to evaluate effect and resistance stimulation of neem extract and Mancozeb fungicide on Brown Spot (PBS) and Stalk Rot (PSR) diseases of corn due to Physoderma maydis in field condition. The experimental design was a two-factor split-plot. The treatments were a combination of Control (T), Mancozeb (Mz) at the concentration of 6g/L and aqueous extract of neem seeds (AENS) at the concentration of 50g/L with CMS 9015 and CMS 8704 varieties. Incidence, severity, rainfall, Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUIPC, AUSiPC) were recorded. Phenol and protein rates, enzymatic activity of Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX) and glucanase were carried out. Stalk length and yield were evaluated. Incidence and severity of Physoderma Brown Spot (PBS) and Physoderma Stalk Rot (PSR) increased with time and environmental conditions (rainfall). The highest disease incidence was observed in the control treatments with both diseases, 52.39 and 37.67 % respectively for Brown Spot and Stalk Rot in CMS8704 variety and lower with AENS, 13.5 and 36.01%. AENS reduced PBS incidence and severity by 23.1 and 19.9 %, respectively and Mz by 9.3 and 18.1 %. The AUIPC and AUSiPC of PBS and PSR remained lower with AENS treatment during the growing season and higher with the other treatments. The highest phenol and proteins rates (8.81 and 25.1 mg/g/FM) were recorded for the AENS treatment in CMS9015 and CMS8704 variety, respectively. Enzymatic activity was more enhanced in CMS8704 variety with AENS. 4.22 A470/min/g, 1.55 A470/min/g and 1.15 µmole/min /g were recorded respectively for PPO, POX, and Glucane activities. Stalk length was higher in AENS and Mancozeb treatments with variety CMS8704 (125.13 and 123 cm respectively). A yield increase of 7.44% was obtained in the AENS treatment. The combination or not of aqueous neem extract and CMS8704 could be used in the integrated control of PBS and PSR of maize

Colletotrichum fioriniae and Colletotrichum godetiae Causing Postharvest Bitter Rot of Apple in South Tyrol (Northern Italy).

South Tyrol (northern Italy) harbors one of the largest interconnected apple farming areas in Europe, contributing approximately 10% to the apple production of the European Union. Despite the availability of sophisticated storage facilities, postharvest diseases occur, one of which is bitter rot of apple. In Europe, this postharvest disease is mainly caused by the Colletotrichum acutatum species complex. This study aimed to characterize the Colletotrichum spp. isolated from decayed apple fruit collected in 2018 and 2019 in South Tyrol. The characterization of Colletotrichum spp. was accomplished based on multilocus DNA sequences of four different genomic regions-actin (ACT), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), histone H3 (HIS3), and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region-as well as morphological and pathogenicity assessment. A phylogenetic analysis based on multilocus DNA sequences showed that the isolates obtained from apples with symptoms of bitter rot belonged to the species Colletotrichum godetiae and Colletotrichum fioriniae, which are part of the Colletotrichum acutatum species complex. A third species isolated from apples belonging to the same species complex, Colletotrichum salicis, was described in this area. Moreover, the Colletotrichum isolates found in this study proved to be virulent on Cripps Pink, Golden Delicious, and Roho 3615/Evelina. To the best of our knowledge, C. godetiae and C. fioriniae have so far never been mentioned as postharvest pathogens of apple in Italy, although the reanalysis of samples collected in the past indicates that these pathogens have been occurring in Italy for at least a decade. So far, bitter rot seems to play a minor role as a postharvest disease in South Tyrol, but it was disproportionately represented on a few scab-resistant apple cultivars, which are increasingly planted in organically managed orchards. Considering that the expansion of organic apple production and the conversion to new potentially Colletotrichum-susceptible cultivars will continue, the present study represents an important contribution toward a better understanding of bitter rot in this geographic area.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Single-spore isolation protocol for characterization of postharvest pathogens causing bitter rot of apple in South Tyrol

ISHS V International Symposium on Postharvest Pathology: From Consumer to Laboratory-Sustainable Approaches to Managing Postharvest Pathogens Single-spore isolation protocol for characterization of postharvest pathogens causing bitter rot of apple in South Tyrol

Pest categorisation of Colletotrichum fructicola.

The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Colletotrichum fructicola Prihast., a well‐defined polyphagous fungus of the C. gloeosporioides complex which has been reported from all the five continents to cause anthracnose, bitter rot and leaf spotting diseases on over 90 cultivated and non‐cultivated woody or herbaceous plant species. The pathogen is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. Because of the very wide host range, this pest categorisation focused on Camellia sinensis, Citrus sinensis, C. reticulata, Fragaria × ananassa, Malus domestica, M. pumila, Persea americana, Prunus persica, Pyrus pyrifolia and P. bretschneideri for which there was robust evidence that C. fructicola was formally identified by morphology and multilocus gene sequencing analysis. Host plants for planting and fresh fruits are the main pathways for the entry of the pathogen into the EU. There are no reports of interceptions of C. fructicola in the EU. The pathogen has been reported from Italy and France. The host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in some parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment of the pathogen. Economic impact on the production of the main hosts is expected if establishment occurs. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the re‐introduction of the pathogen into the EU. Although the pathogen is present in the EU, there is a high uncertainty on its actual distribution in the territory because of the re‐evaluation of Colletotrichum taxonomy and the lack of systematic surveys. Therefore, the Panel cannot conclude with certainty on whether C. fructicola satisfies the criterium of being present but not widely distributed in the EU to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest unless systematic surveys for C. fructicola are conducted and Colletotrichum isolates from the EU in culture collections are re‐evaluated.

Colletotrichum aenigma Associated with Apple Bitter Rot on Newly Bred cv. RubyS Apple

The abnormal brown sunken lesions were observed on cv. RubyS apple fruits in an orchard located in Gunwi, Gyeongbuk province, Korea. The primary observed symptoms such as small round sunken lesions and small black dots on the symptomatic area were different from the reported apple diseases. The affected apple fruits were sampled and subjected to isolation of the causal agent. Cultural and morphological characteristics of isolated fungal strain, designated KNUF-20GWA4, were similar to that of Colletotrichum spp. Based on multilocus sequence analyses using internal transcribed spacer regions and partial sequences of β-tubulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, chitin synthase, and actin genes, strain KNUF-20GWA4 showed 99.2-100% similarities with C. aenigma ICMP 18608 and the isolate clustered together with several other strains of this species in the phylogenetic tree. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bitter rot on apple fruits caused by C. aenigma.

Bitter Rot of Apple in the Mid-Atlantic United States: Causal Species and Evaluation of the Impacts of Regional Weather Patterns and Cultivar Susceptibility.

Apple growers in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States have been reporting an increase in losses to bitter rot of apple and are requesting up-to-date management recommendations. Management is complicated by variations in apple cultivar susceptibility, temperature, rainfall, and biology of the Colletotrichum spp. that cause bitter rot. Over 500 apple fruit with bitter rot were obtained from 38 orchards across the Mid-Atlantic and the causal species were identified as Colletotrichum fioriniae and C. nymphaeae of the C. acutatum species complex and C. chrysophilum, C. noveboracense, C. siamense, C. fructicola, C. henanense, and C. gloeosporioides sensu stricto of the C. gloeosporioides species complex, the latter two being first reports. Species with faster in vitro growth rates at higher temperatures were more abundant in warmer regions of the Mid-Atlantic, while those with slower growth rates at higher temperatures were more abundant in cooler regions. Regional bloom dates are earlier and weather data show a gradual warming trend that likely influenced but was not necessarily the main cause of the recent increase in bitter rot in the region. A grower survey of apple cultivar susceptibility showed high variation, with the increase in acres planted to the highly susceptible cultivar Honeycrisp broadly corresponding to the increase in reports of bitter rot. These results form a basis for future studies on the biology and ecology of the Colletotrichum spp. responsible, and suggest that integrated bitter rot management must begin with selection of less-susceptible apple cultivars.

Epsilon-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) exhibits multifaceted antifungal mechanisms of action that control postharvest Alternaria rot

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is a natural antimicrobial poly-cationic peptide widely applied as a natural preservative in the food industry, whereas its application in preventing postharvest loss of fruit was largely absent. This study investigated the antifungal activity of ε-PL and determined the possible mechanisms involved. The in vivo results indicated that 500 mg L−1 exogenous ε-PL treatment significantly inhibited black spot rot in apple, jujube, and tomato. The lesion diameter inhibition rate was range from 20.11% to 29.09% by 500 mg L−1 ε-PL treatment. ε-PL exerts antifungal activity against A. alternata in vitro, the half-inhibition concentration is 160.1 mg L−1. ε-PL induced morphology and ultrastructure change on the pathogen, which resulted in the inhibition of A. alternata. This was accomplished by disturbing pathogen membrane integrity and functionality. The fluorometric assay confirmed that ε-PL induced endogenous reactive oxygen species formation and accumulation in A. alternata and the elicited severe lipid peroxidation that caused membrane lesions. Further, ε-PL treatment enhanced the expression of genes involved in antioxidant metabolism and pathogenesis-related responses in apple fruit. These findings illustrated that ε-PL exhibits multifaceted antifungal activity by the direct effect on the pathogen as well as induce host defense responses. ε-PL may be conducive as a promising alternative for Alternaria rot management.

Brown Spot and Stalk Rot Diseases of Maize (Zea Mays) and Susceptibility of Two Varieties to Physoderma Maydis in Far North Cameroon

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely grown cereals in the world. However, in Cameroon, particularly in the Far North Region, yields remain low because of diseases increasing due to farming practices and climate change. This work aimed to characterize Brown Spot and Stalk Rot of corn and evaluate the susceptibility of two maize varieties to Physoderma maydis in field conditions. Two maize varieties, CMS9015, and CMS8704 were evaluated in a randomized block design. Disease symptoms were observed and described using identification keys. Microscopic characteristics of pathogens were performed using a microscope. Incidence, severity, and areas under disease curve progress (AUIPC and AUSiPC) were calculated. Brown spot occurred 3 or 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) at the growing stage in CMS8704 variety first, and stalk rot 7 WAS. Brown spot appeared in leaves and is characterized by oval yellowish spots in the leaf blade and brownish spots in the midrid. Stalk rot infects stem nodes and is characterized by brownish spots, leading to the broken stem. The incidence of brown spot increased with time and environmental conditions (rainfall). The highest incidence of Physoderma Brown Spot was recorded with CMS8704 variety 53.06 % against 51.72 % with CMS9015. Severity was respectively 54.40 % and 47.12 % with CMS8704 and CMS9015. The incidence and severity of stalk rot were almost identical in both varieties. AUIPC of PBS and PSR was higher in CMS9015 than in CMS 8704, 63 DAS. PBS and PSR infect maize production, and both varieties are susceptible to P. maydis.

First report of Alternaria alternata causing postharvest black spot rot of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in Lu'an, Anhui Province

First report of Alternaria alternata causing postharvest black spot rot of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in Lu'an, Anhui Province

WITHDRAWN: Categorising Apple Fruit Diseases Employing Hybrid Neural Clustering Classifier

Agricultural field plays a major role in development of India. The farmers are supplemented with additional profit by exporting fruits from India. The devastating problem in economic losses and production in agricultural industry is caused by diseases in fruits. Manual identification of defected fruit is time consuming and a difficult approach. Based on the pictures representing the symptoms of the fruit, Web-based system helps non experts also in the identification of the fruit disease. In this paper ten types of apple fruit diseases are classified by using the proposed Hybrid Neural Clustering (HNC) Classifier. The results of the feature extraction vector is supplied as the input to the classifier. There are two phases in this proposed method .The first phase is used to train the images by using the K Means Clustering to cluster the vector points and followed up with the second phase which is used to test by applying the Feed Forward Back propagation neural network (FFBP). The output received is the whole set of images that are classified into the various apple fruit diseases. The various diseases classified are Alternia Rot, Black Rot, Scab, Grey Mould, Bitter Rot, Blister Spot, Brown Rot, White Rot, Blue Mould, Powdery Mildew. The proposed method is evaluated by precision, recall and F Measure and it scored higher values than existing methods. Proposed method provides 98% of accuracy than other existing method.