Main postharvest fungal diseases of pomegranate fruit in southern Italy

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an increasingly important crop in Apulia, where most of the Italian production occur. The main yield problem is related to postharvest losses caused by fungi. The present research was conducted using fruit of two cultivars (Mollar de Elche and Wonderful) with different characteristics, from local markets, orchards, and packinghouses in the province of Lecce (southern Italy). The main fungi observed on stored pomegranate fruit were Botrytis sp., Pilidiella granati, Alternaria spp., Penicillium spp. (s.l.), Colletotrichum acutatum, and Cytospora punicae. The early three pathogens infected fruit through the calyx area during blossom, and then spread to the entire pomegranate. Moreover, Botrytis sp. was responsible for harmful latent infections, especially during the cold storage, which was a critical stage even for C. acutatum. Two different species of Alternaria, causing “black heart” or “black spot”, were identified: A. alternata and A. arborescens. The main Penicillium spp. s.s. observed were P. glabrum, P. adametzioides, and P. brevicompactum. Few isolates of Talaromyces albobiverticillius were also present. These fungi, that share very similar macroscopic characteristics, were mainly present on decayed stamens and wounds. In the present study, P. granati and C. punicae, predominantly recorded as etiological agents of pomegranate trunk canker, were isolated from fruit.