Effects of Different Temperatures,Wetness Duration and Fungus Age on Penicillium expansum H1 Infection of Citrus

Abstract:

Citrus disease caused by Penicillium expansum has become increasingly serious, which is responsible for economic loss to citrus producing areas. The research on the infection of citrus with postharvest pathogens was mainly focused on P.ditalicum and P.italicum, whereas the studies on the conditions of P.ditalicum infecting citrus have not been reported. In this study, the effects of different temperatures, wetness duration and fungus age on P.ditalicum H1 infection of citrus were investigated. The results showed that P.ditalicum H1 had the shortest incubation period and the strongest infectivity at 25 ℃, while at 4 ℃ the infectivity was inhibited. Longer wetness duration was beneficial to P.ditalicum H1 infection. The fungus age also affected the infection of citrus with P.ditalicum H1 with the order of infectivity: cultured for 7 d>11 d>15 d>9 d>3 d.