Autors: Josiane T. Ferrari; Jesus G. Töfoli; Ricardo J. Domingues, LDFH, CPDSV, Instituto Biológico

E-mail: ricardo.domingues@sp.gov.br

Main host: Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merril)

Causative agent: Ceratocystis paradoxa (Thielaviopsis paradoxa) (De Seynes) Höhn

Etiology: Black rot of pineapple fruit is caused by the fungus Thielaviopsis paradoxa, in its imperfect or asexual phase. In the sexual or perfect phase it is called Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) C. Moreau, (1952) (Ascomycetes, Microascales, family Ophiostomatacea), rarely found in nature. The main entry point for the fungus is the peduncle, resulting from the harvesting process. In its imperfect phase, the fungus produces club-shaped conidiophores (phialides) that are generally pigmented, with 3 to 4 erect, hyaline, long and tapered septa. The terminal phialides are wider near the base, where the hyaline, cylindrical endoconidia are formed, initially in chains. The aleuriospores form in chains, with an elliptical shape, dark and 3 to 4 times larger than the conidia, being produced in the interior of short conidiophores.

Symptoms: Contamination by cutting the crop causes the development of a yellow, cone-shaped lesion, while infection by wounds on the fruit surface results in a lesion that progresses towards the central axis. The characteristic symptom is rotting and darkening of the pulp.

Economic importance: It is a disease that causes losses in pineapple fruits in the period between harvesting and processing and can be responsible for high losses, both in fruits for fresh consumption and in those destined for the processing industry.

Distribution: It is present in all producing regions of the world and, in Brazil, in all states that produce the fruit.

Management:

- Harvest the fruits with a part of the peduncle (approximately 3 cm);

- Avoid injuries to the surface of the fruits, handling them with care both at harvest and post-harvest; - Store and transport the fruits at temperatures between 8 to 10°C;

- Protect the wound resulting from harvesting the fruit with registered fungicides, brushing the fruit peduncle with the product, not forgetting to check the grace period;

- Eliminate crop residues near the areas where the fruits are processed, to reduce the source of inoculum.

- Remove the pup seedlings; - Avoid harvesting during prolonged periods of rain, which results in high percentages of infected fruits;

- Carry out hydrothermal treatment, 54°C for three minutes, which also shows efficiency in controlling black rot in the fruit.

References

CLINE, E. Ceratocystis paradoxa and Thielaviopsis thielavioides. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Disponível em: http://nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/onlineresources/nomenfactsheets/rptBuildFactSheet_onLine.cfm?thisName=Ceratocystis%20paradoxa%20and%20Thielaviopsis%20thielavioides¤tDS=specimens.

MATOS, A.P. DE. Abacaxi – Fitossanidade. Cruz das Almas: Embrapa-CNPMF. 2000. 77p. (Série Frutas do Brasil, 9). MATOS, A.P. DE. Manejo integrado da podridão-negra do fruto do abacaxizeiro. Cruz das Almas: Embrapa-CNPMF. 2005. 2p. Abacaxi em Foco, n.34.

PAULIN-MAHADY, A.E.; HARRINGTON, T.C.; MCNEW, D.L. Phylogenetic and taxonomic evaluation of Chalara, Chalaropsis, and Thielaviopsis anamorphs associated with Ceratocystis. Mycologia, v.94, n.1, p.62-72, 2002. Disponível: http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/1/62.

Keywords: Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Ceratocystis paradoxa

Suggested Citation:

FERRARI, J. T.; TÖFOLI, J. G.; DOMINGUES, R.J. Pineapple (Ananas comosus): Black rot: Ceratocystis paradoxa (Thielaviopsis paradoxa) (De Seynes) Höhn. In: Instituto Biológico. Guia de Sanidade Vegetal. Available at: http://www.sica.bio.br/guiabiologico/busca_culturas_resultado_ing_ok.php?Id=40. Accessed on: month day, year