Postharvest Rots

Many fungi

36 host plants

Last updated

Data Maturity Baseline

This profile contains verified disease data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.

You'll see postharvest rots as decay developing on stored fruit and vegetables after harvest. Proper harvesting technique and careful handling prevent wounds that allow rot entry. Store fruit at proper temperatures and humidity levels. Remove infected fruit promptly to prevent spread. Sanitation of storage facilities is essential. Rot diseases are difficult to manage once established. Focus on prevention through proper culture and site selection.

The key is to prevent mechanical injury to fruit during and after harvest. Just before the first harvest, disinfect storage rooms by fogging with ozone or peroxyacetic acid.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Many fungi
Host Plants
36

Management

Cultural Controls

  • The key is to prevent mechanical injury to fruit during and after harvest.
  • Just before the first harvest, disinfect storage rooms by fogging with ozone or peroxyacetic acid.
  • Shield harvested fruit from sun and heat.
  • Harvest in the morning rather than afternoon so fruit have higher firmness and less flesh extrusion risk.
  • Harvest at proper maturity, and instruct harvesters on the proper technique for removing fruit from the tree.
  • Late harvest can result in increased decay rates.

Host Plants (36)

Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry