HOW TO CONTROL FRUIT ROT

Prolonged storage of citrus fruits exposes them to a variety of ailments, which may be physiological in origin, often linked to cold, or parasitic in origin, essentially fungal diseases. Identification results led to the recognition of four fungal species, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus niger and Acremonium sp. isolated from preserved citrus fruit in the Kenitra region of Morocco. The antifungal properties of azoxystrobin and the essential oils tested in vitro were broad-spectrum, with very strong antifungal activity on the diametral growth of pathogens responsible for citrus fruit rot.