engleski

Sensitivity of different apple cultivars to Alternaria rot (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.)

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most significant fruit species worldwide, including Croatia. Apple fruits are stored after harvest in order to provide market with quality fruits yearlong. Fungi from genus Alternaria are one of many causal agents of fruit deterioration during storage. The objectives of this study were to determine sensitivity of apple cultivars Idared, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Florina and Melrose to Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl., and to establish pathogen's ability to infect fruit. Pathogenicity tests were conducted. Inoculations were done both on wounded and unwounded apple fruits of chosen cultivars. The appearance of symptoms was recorded, and lesion diameters were measured one, two or three weeks after inoculation. Average lesion growth was calculated and expressed in mm per day. Growth was analysed with the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Statistical analysis has shown significant differences between the cultivars in sensitivity to Alternaria rot. Symptoms of infection with A. alternata did not develop on cultivar Golden Delicious, therefore we concluded that it was the least sensitive cultivar. Tipical lesions developed on other cultivars. Idared showed to be least sensitive by comparison with Granny Smith, Florina and Melrose. Results of this study have shown that A. alternata is a typical wound parasite, since symptoms of Alternaria rot were not recorded on either cultivar when inoculated on unwounded fruit.

apple; cultivar; Alternaria rot; Alternaria alternata; pathogenicity test

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