Phytophthora fruit rot

Phytophthora spp

13 host plants · Oomycete

Last updated

You'll see fruit rot on susceptible hosts caused by Phytophthora species attacking fruit and causing decay. This disease spreads rapidly in wet conditions. Remove infected fruit promptly. Improve air circulation and reduce humidity in plantings. Apply fungicides preventively if disease pressure is high. Focus on resistant varieties when available. Rot diseases are difficult to manage once established. Focus on prevention through proper culture and site selection.

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

Agent Type
oomycete
Causal Agent
Phytophthora spp
Host Plants
13

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Avoid overhead watering.
  • Reduce time fruit is wet from irrigation to less than one hour (this includes actual irrigation time as well as drying time).
  • Do not get water on fruit within 10 days of harvest.

Host Plants (13)

Sources & References

Data Maturity
Baseline Extension data. Expert review underway.