Fungal Diseases of Fruit and Foliage of Citrus Trees

Abstract

Several important diseases of the fruit and foliage of citrus trees are addressed in this chapter: Postbloom fruit drop, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum; Alternaria brown spot, caused by Alternaria alternata; scab diseases, caused by Elsinoe fawsettii and E. australis; melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri; and greasy spot caused by Mycosphaerella citri. With each disease the history, economic importance, disease cycle, epidemiology, and control are covered. Special emphasis is placed on diagnosis and identification of the diseases and pathogens. Basic methods are presented for isolation of the pathogen, culture, production of various spore forms as well as for inoculation of plants to reproduce Koch's postulates.