Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Megan Dewdney
PLP 5115c
Foliar Fungal Diseases to be
Covered
Alternaria Brown Spot (and leaf spot of
rough lemon)
Greasy spot
Melanose
Scab Diseases
Black Spot
Postbloom Fruit Drop
Pseudocercospera Fruit and Leaf Spot
Note on Terminology
Many Ascomycete fungi have what is know as
an anamorph and teleomorph
Anamorph: asexual or imperfect stage
Teleomorph: sexual or perfect stage
Have separate names
shifted to earlier in 20
15
season 10
Why? 5
F
A
D
J
J
S
M
M
Months
Epiphytic Growth
Occurs during the wet
summer months
Ascospore dose does not
determine level of epiphytic
growth
Similar patterns on fruit and
leaves
4
July spray
August spray
3 May+June spray
0
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan
Melanose
Causal agent: Diaporthe citri
Anamorph: Phomopsis citri
Disease is present in most citrus producing
countries
Important only where fresh fruit is
produced in humid areas
Causes lesions on fruit and leaves
All citrus susceptible but grapefruit and
lemons are the most susceptible
Diaporthe citri
Ascospores formed in perithecia
Spherical with flattened base (125-160 µm)
Long tapered beaks (200-800 µm)
β-conidia
Filiform and hooked
Don’t germinate and are predominant form in
older pycnidia
0.7-1.5 x 20-30 µm
Tissue Susceptibility
Spring flush usually not severely infected
On summer flush infection can lead to
defoliation especially after dieback
Leaves become resistant once fully
expanded
Fruit resistant 12 weeks after petal fall and
when infection occurs later during the 12
weeks, lesions are smaller
Grapefruit are susceptible until 7-10 cm in
diameter
Symptoms
Melanose Disease Cycle Caused by
Diaporthe citri
Pycnidia Production
Conidia germinate
6 hrs at 16 °C
4 hrs 20 to 28 °C
Literature has
varying times and
temperatures needed
for infection
Optimum temp
determined to be 24-
28 °C
Agostini et al., 2003
Melanose Disease Cycle Caused by
Diaporthe citri
Cultural Controls
Select younger groves for fresh fruit
Less dead wood for inoculum production
Especially important in springs after freezes
Legend -
Crop
losses
Major
Epidemics
South Africa
7 months of measurable
ascospore release
Winter
1 month post
petal fall
Spore Release in Taiwan
Taiwan is a more humid climate
Rainfall varies from 127-279 mm between Feb-Oct
Remaining months 50-76 mm
Brazil
Spore release did not match
rainfall
Needs only a trace of rain to
eject?
Major ejection 3-4 months post
petal fall
Rainfall
April - September 25-64 mm
October – March 152-229 mm
Dashed line =
% flowers
diseased
Bars = rain
Pretorius, 2005
Controls
Inoculum control via collecting and destroying all
fallen fruit and leaves in affected orchards
Burying or burning
Plant windbreaks around the citrus orchards
Wind is the primary dispersal agent spores
Discouraging inter-planting in affected orchards
with mature producing trees
Prevents creation of a microclimate of relatively cool
temperatures and high RH
Potential inoculum source for young trees
Judicious pruning of shoots to allow light
penetration into aeration within the tree canopy
Shorten leaf wetness period, lower RH and moderate
temperatures
Seif and Hillocks, 1993
Fungicides
Fungicides
Alternate benylate and copper sprays every 2
weeks from a week following the onset of
rains
When fruit are golf ball sized an addition 3
copper sprays should be applied followed by
another benylate