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idMicrobe: Tool to recognize plant diseases and consult home treatments

The Guide to Caring for Your Plants

Learn to recognize pests and how to combat them

Anthracnose in fruit: symptoms, prevention and treatment

Anthracnose

Colletotrichum sp.

Pathogen:

Type:

Fungus

Risk:

HIGH

Anthracnose in fruit: symptoms, prevention and treatment

Frutos

Antracnosis

Anthracnose: Symptoms, damage and solutions in fruit
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WHO CAUSES IT?

Colletotrichum sp. is a genus of phytopathogenic fungi comprising numerous species capable of causing disease in a wide variety of crops, especially fruits. Many species exhibit hemibiotrophic behavior, initiating colonization of living tissues relatively discreetly and subsequently progressing to a necrotrophic phase in which they destroy cells and cause visible lesions. The fungus develops a mycelium composed of hyphae that can grow on the surface and penetrate tissues. An important characteristic of many Colletotrichum species is the formation of specialized structures called appressoria, which allow the fungus to adhere firmly to the plant surface and exert mechanical pressure and enzymatic activity to penetrate the cuticle and access internal tissues. Infection can occur through directly penetrable tissues, although wounds, cracks, insect damage, and other lesions considerably facilitate pathogen entry. After becoming established, the fungus may initially remain inconspicuous, especially when the fruits have not yet reached maturity. As the infection progresses and the fruit ripens, the pathogen's activity may increase and become evident through the appearance of characteristic necrotic lesions. Acervuli, reproductive structures in which numerous conidia are produced, form in the affected areas. Conidia are generally hyaline and unicellular and constitute one of the main sources of pathogen propagation. When environmental conditions are favorable, conidia can germinate on the fruit surface and form germ tubes and appressoria. Surface moisture is especially important for germination and penetration to occur. Conidia can be released from the lesions by water and subsequently reach other susceptible fruits or tissues. Rain, sprinkler irrigation, water splash, tissue contact, and cultivation practices can all promote their dispersal. The pathogen can also survive between growing seasons in infected plant debris, affected fruit, and other contaminated materials, providing sources of inoculum for new infections. In certain species, infections can remain latent for a significant portion of fruit development and manifest themselves later during ripening or after harvest. This characteristic is especially relevant in fruits intended for storage and sale, since a fruit that appears healthy at harvest time can develop lesions during transport or storage.

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SYMPTOMS

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum sp. primarily affects fruit and is characterized by the appearance of necrotic lesions that can develop rapidly under favorable temperatures and high humidity. The first signs of the disease appear as small, circular, slightly sunken spots of varying color, which subsequently increase in size and turn brown, reddish, black, or grayish depending on the Colletotrichum species and the affected fruit. As the infection progresses, the lesions can penetrate deeper into the tissues and cause extensive rot. Under high humidity, the lesions develop masses of viscous conidia that may exhibit orange, pink, or salmon hues, characteristic of many species within the genus. The disease can appear during cultivation but can also manifest after harvest, especially when the fruit reaches maturity. The progression of the lesions reduces the firmness, quality, and shelf life of the fruit and can cause significant losses when a high inoculum level is present. The disease can manifest itself through:

• Circular or irregular spots of brown, reddish, grayish, or black color.

• Slightly sunken or depressed lesions on the surface of the fruit.

• Small lesions that progressively increase in size.

• Necrosis of the affected tissues.

• Appearance of areas of soft or progressive rot.

• Formation of concentric lesions or lesions with clearly defined borders on some fruits.

• Appearance of masses of orange, pink, or salmon-colored conidia on the lesions under humid conditions.

• Cracks and deterioration of the epidermis in the affected areas.

• Progressive sinking of the tissues.

• Spread of the rot into the interior of the fruit.

• Loss of firmness and alteration of texture.

• Uneven ripening or accelerated deterioration of the affected fruits.

• Development of lesions during storage and transport. • Post-harvest rot that can continue to develop even if the fruit showed no obvious symptoms at harvest.

• Reduction in marketable quality and an increase in the percentage of discarded fruit.

Damage caused by anthracnose in fruit
Anthracnose in fruit: How to recognize and effectively treat it
Fruit affected by anthracnose with dark spots and sunken lesions
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TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

20–30 °C

90–100 %

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TRANSMISSION ROUTES

Conidia transported by wind, rain, water splashes, irrigation water, contact between fruits, infected plant debris, affected fruits, contaminated tools, agricultural machinery, contaminated harvesting boxes and materials, hands and clothing of workers, insects, wounds caused by pests, contaminated plant material.

Do you want to remove this disease? Choose how you want to treat it.

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TREATMENTS

Chemical treatments

• AZOXISTROBIN 25% [SC] P/V
• CAPTAN 47.5% [SC] P/V
• CIPRODINIL 37.5% + FLUDIOXONIL 25% [WG] P/P
• FOLPET 50% [SC] P/V
• FOLPET 80% [WG] P/P
• METIRAM 70% [WG] P/P
• PIRACLOSTROBIN 6.7% + BOSCALIDE 26.7% (I) [WG] P/P
• CUPRIC HYDROXIDE 25% (EXPR. IN CU) [WG] P/P
• LAMINARIN 4.5% [SL] P/S
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 35% (exp. in Cu) [WG] P/P
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 38% (EXPR. IN CU) [SC] P/V
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 50% (EXPR. IN CU) [WP] P/P
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 52% (EXPR. IN CU) [SC] P/V
• CUPROCALCIC SULFATE 20% (EXPR. IN CU) [WG] P/P

Treatments allowed in organic farming

• CUPRIC HYDROXIDE 25% (EXPR. IN CU) [WG] P/P
• LAMINARIN 4.5% [SL] P/S
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 35% (exp. in Cu) [WG] P/P
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 38% (EXPR. IN CU) [SC] P/V
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 50% (EXPR. IN CU) [WP] P/P
• COPPER OXYCHLORIDE 52% (EXPR. IN CU) [SC] P/V
• CUPROCALCIC SULFATE 20% (EXPR. IN CU) [WG] P/P

Biological treatments

• BACILLUS SUBTILIS (STRAIN QST 713) 1.34% [SC] P/V

Recommendations

• Remove affected fruit and infected plant debris to reduce sources of inoculum present in the plot. • Remove fallen or mummified fruit that may remain on the ground and act as a reservoir for the pathogen.

• Avoid leaving overripe fruit on the plants, as mature tissues may be more susceptible to certain Colletotrichum species.

• Reduce wounds and mechanical damage during agricultural work, harvesting, and fruit handling.

• Avoid insect damage, as wounds can facilitate pathogen penetration.

• Maintain good aeration of the vegetation through proper crop structure management.

• Avoid excessive vegetation density that hinders fruit drying after rain or irrigation.

• Reduce the time the fruit remains wet.

• Avoid overhead irrigation whenever possible, especially during periods of high disease pressure.

• Schedule irrigation to avoid prolonged surface moisture on the fruit.

• Maintain proper hygiene. Tools, equipment, boxes, and surfaces used during harvesting and handling.

• Avoid transporting or storing healthy fruit together with fruit showing suspicious lesions.

• Select and remove any fruit with wounds, lesions, or signs of infection during sorting.

• Handle fruit carefully during harvesting to avoid bruising, cuts, abrasions, and other injuries.

• Maintain suitable storage conditions that reduce condensation and surface moisture on the fruit.

• Pay special attention to crops during periods of high temperatures and persistent humidity.

• Conduct frequent inspections to detect the first lesions and prevent excessive inoculum multiplication.

• Apply fungicides authorized for the crop and specifically for the control of Colletotrichum, following the doses, intervals, and maximum number of applications indicated on the label.

• Apply preventively or at times of highest risk when indicated by the authorized product and the control strategy, avoiding reliance solely on curative treatments.

• Alternate active ingredients belonging to different groups Mode of action to reduce selection pressure on pathogen populations.

• Avoid consecutive or repeated applications of active ingredients with the same FRAC group when authorized alternatives exist.

• Strictly adhere to recommended doses and avoid reducing doses below those indicated on the label.

• Limit the number of applications of active ingredients with a higher risk of resistance selection.

• Integrate chemical treatments with cultural, hygiene, and moisture management practices.

• Use healthy plant material and avoid introducing contaminated fruit or debris into pathogen-free plots.

• Properly disinfect equipment and tools when there is a risk of transporting infected plant material between plots.

• Avoid moving contaminated plant debris from diseased areas to healthy areas during agricultural work.

• Maintain an integrated management strategy that reduces the amount of inoculum and decreases the need for repeated fungicide applications.

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Insect Barrier/Repellent

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For outdoor and indoor use. Pet friendly

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100% organic diatomaceous earth

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Natural insecticide against insects

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Beetle traps

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Ideal for ornamentals, flowers and shrubs.

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Attracts and traps tomato moths

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Snail and slug traps

Ideal for orchards, gardens and pots.

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Effective against all types of fungi

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*The recommended treatments are recommendations based on the authorities' databases and in no way replace the guidelines established by the legislation of each country.

*Products shown are recommendations and not our own products. As Amazon Associates, we earn revenue from purchases of recommended products.

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TREATMENTS

Homemade remedies

BONE MEAL OR GROUND FISH SHELLS

RUSTY NAILS OR IRON SHAVINGS

BANANA PEELS

EPSOM SALTS (MAGNESIUM SULFATE)

SOLUTION WITH HOUSEHOLD BORAX

GROUND OR BOILED EGGSHELLS

COMPOST WITH ONION OR GARLIC SCRAPS

VEGETABLE COOKING WATER

WOOD ASH

WATER WITH VINEGAR OR LEMON (VERY DILUTED)

GARLIC INFUSION

USED COFFEE OR TEA

BANANA AND EGGSHELL INFUSION

POTATO OR LEGUME COOKING WATER

COMPOST FROM FRESH GREEN LEAVES

COMPOST OR WELL-AGED MANURE

DILUTED MILK (1:10)

BANANA TEA

LEAF COMPOST

NETTLE SLURRY

POTASSIUM SOAP AND NEEM OIL SOLUTION

POTASSIUM SOAP SOLUTION + NEEM OIL + DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

BAKING SODA AND NEUTRAL SOAP SOLUTION

GARLIC INFUSION WITH NEUTRAL SOAP

CHROMATIC OR ADHESIVE TRAPS

DILUTED MILK

HORSETAIL INFUSION

TRUNK WHITEWASHING

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

WOOD ASH

NETTLE SLURRY

CUT THE AFFECTED BRANCHES AND APPLY CINNAMON

GARLIC AND CINNAMON INFUSION

INFUSION OF WORMWOOD, CHILI OR CHILLI

CLEAN THE AFFECTED AREA AND APPLY ASH PASTE WITH GARLIC OR CINNAMON

GARLIC AND MINT INFUSION

LIGHT TRAPS

APPLY CINNAMON POWDER

PITFALL TRAPS

CRUSHED EGG SHELLS

CLEAN AND SEAL THE WOUND WITH CLAY, CINNAMON AND GARLIC PASTE

GARLIC INFUSION

MATURE COMPOST

TRAPS WITH VINEGAR AND SOAP

SEAL HOLES WITH ASH PASTE AND CRUSHED GARLIC

VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA SOLUTION

ANT TRAP

TAPE TRAP

PHEROMONE TRAP

ALCOHOL TRAPS

FUNNEL TRAP

There are no home treatments

Natural allies

PREDATORY MITES

LADYBUGS

LACEWINGS

PARASITIC WASPS

HOVERFLIES OR PARASITIC FLIES

PREDATORY BUGS

There are no natural allies

Mycodiplosis oidii (predatory mosquito)

Chemical treatments

AGRICULTURAL SULFUR (POWDER OR SOLUBLE)

POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS

MAGNESIUM FERTILIZERS

BORON FERTILIZERS

CALCIUM FERTILIZERS

NITROGEN FERTILIZERS

PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS

IRON FERTILIZERS

SULFUR FERTILIZERS

NPK FERTILIZERS

There are no treatments for this disease. Treatments are directed at the insect vectors that transmit it. See insect treatments.

ABAMECTIN 0.0015% + PYRETHRINS 0.02%

RAPESEAL OIL

RAPESEAL OIL + PYRETHRINS

ORANGE OIL 6%

PARAFFIN OIL

ACETAMIPRID

ACETAMIPRID 0.005%

ACETAMIPRID 20%

SULFUR

COPPER 20%

COPPER 25%

COPPER 35%

COPPER 38%

COPPER 50%

COPPER 52%

DELTAMETHRIN 1.57%

DELTAMETHRIN 10%

DELTAMETHRIN 2.5%

DIFENOCONAZOLE 1.67%

ESFENVALERATE 2.5%

ESFENVALERATE 5%

100% GARLIC EXTRACT

PHENHEXAMIDE 50%

FLUPYRADIFURONE

FLUPIRADIFURONE 20%

FOSETIL-AL 80%

FERRIC PHOSPHATE

ALUMINUM PHOSPHIDE 56%

PHOSTIAZATE 10%

PHOSTIAZATE 15%

HEXITIAZOX 10%

POTASSIUM HYDROGEN CARBONATE

LAMBDA CYHALOTHRIN

LAMINARIN 4.5%

METALDEHYDE

PIRACLOSTROBIN 6.7% + BOSCALIDE 26.7%

PYRETHRINS

PYRIPROXIFEN 10%

POTASSIUM SALTS OF UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS

SPINOSAD 0.024%

SPINOSAD 12%

SPINOSAD 48%

TAU-FLUVALINATE 24%

TETRACONAZOLE 10%

TETRACONAZOLE 12.5%

TETRACONAZOLE 4%

TRICHODERMA ASPERELLUM (STRAIN T34)

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RECOMMENDATIONS

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REPELLENT PLANTS

EFFECTIVE PRODUCTS TO ELIMINATE THIS DISEASE

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Eco-friendly. Respectful of animals, the environment, and people.

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Eco-friendly. Respectful of animals, the environment, and people.

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Non-Toxic. Reusable. For indoor and outside

Fruit fly traps

Non-Toxic. Reusable. For indoor and outside

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Granulated bait, attractive, safe and fast.

Treatment against snails and slugs

Granulated bait, attractive, safe and fast.

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Solar trap for outside

Light traps for insects

Solar trap for outside

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Tree protection. Easy to use.

Anti-ant adhesive tape

Tree protection. Easy to use.

Sponsored link

Your products closer to your customers

Your product

Your products closer to your customers

Sponsored link

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For orchards, terraces and flower pots.

Adhesive traps for insects

For orchards, terraces and flower pots.

Sponsored link

100% organic. For indoor and outdoor use

Insecticide, fungicide, acaricide and nematicide spraying

100% organic. For indoor and outdoor use

Sponsored link

Insect Barrier/Repellent

Lime for whitewashing

Insect Barrier/Repellent

Sponsored link

For outdoor and indoor use. Pet friendly

Fungus Gnat Killer & Bug Spray

For outdoor and indoor use. Pet friendly

Sponsored link

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Sponsored link

100% Natural. Soil Restorative

Mature compost. Worm castings

100% Natural. Soil Restorative

Sponsored link

Your products closer to your customers

Your product

Your products closer to your customers

Sponsored link

Sponsored link

Natural insecticide against insects

100% organic diatomaceous earth

Natural insecticide against insects

Sponsored link

Ideal for ornamentals, flowers and shrubs.

Beetle traps

Ideal for ornamentals, flowers and shrubs.

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Attracts and traps tomato moths

Trap for Tuta absoluta

Attracts and traps tomato moths

Sponsored link

Ideal for orchards, gardens and pots.

Snail and slug traps

Ideal for orchards, gardens and pots.

Sponsored link

Effective against all types of fungi

Copper-based fungicide - Curative and preventive

Effective against all types of fungi

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*The recommended treatments are recommendations based on the authorities' databases and in no way replace the guidelines established by the legislation of each country.

*Products shown are recommendations and not our own products. As Amazon Associates, we earn revenue from purchases of recommended products.

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OTHER PESTS

Fruit with symptoms of calcium deficiency and developmental abnormalities

Calcium deficiency or blossom-end rot

Fruit affected by water stress with symptoms of dehydration and cracking

Water stress

Fruit affected by weevils with holes and surface damage

Weevils

Fruit affected by waterlogging with soft areas and rot

Watery fruits

Fruit affected by bacterial disease with spots and lesions on the surface

Bacterial infection

Fruit affected by fungi with spots, rot and mold

Mycosis

Fruit with symptoms of boron deficiency and developmental deformities

Boron Deficiency

Fruit with sunburn and areas damaged by excessive sun exposure

Excessive sun

Fruit damaged by snails and slugs with bites and eroded areas

Snails and/or slugs

Fruit affected by powdery mildew with spots and presence of white powder

Powdery mildew

Fruit affected by downy mildew with spots and damaged areas

Mildew

Fruit affected by Alternaria with dark spots and areas of rot

Alternaria

Fruit with symptoms of potassium deficiency and ripening disorders

Potassium Deficiency

Fruit affected by monilia with brown spots and rot

Moniliosis or brown rot

Fruit affected by Botrytis with rot and gray mold

Botrytis or gray mold

Fruit affected by bed bugs with bites and spots on the surface

Bed bugs

Fruit damaged by beetles with holes and bites on the surface

Beetles

Fruit affected by anthracnose with dark spots and sunken lesions

Anthracnose

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