Ripe Rot (Anthracnose)
Colletotrichum spp.
12 host plants
Last updated
Ripe rot and anthracnose cause fruit decay and lesions on various fruit crops. Remove infected fruit from trees. Improve air circulation and drainage. Avoid overhead watering. Apply fungicides preventively during favorable infection periods. Rot diseases are difficult to manage once established. Focus on prevention through proper culture and site selection Early detection and prompt management of symptoms help limit disease spread.
Reduce moisture around affected tissue by improving drainage and air circulation. Remove rotted material cleanly and dispose of it away from the planting area. Avoid wounding healthy tissue during cleanup, as fresh wounds create new entry points. If the problem keeps returning, evaluate whether the site is too wet or poorly drained for the species you are growing.
Quick Reference
Management
Cultural Controls
- A combination of cultural and chemical practices is most helpful in combating losses due to this disease.
- Avoid overhead irrigation or apply such that plants are not wet for extended periods of time.
- Lower the temperature of harvested fruit as soon as possible after picking.
- Prune bushes for adequate airflow and to reduce drying time after becoming wet.