Alternaria Fruit Spot of Pomegranate and How to Manage It

In India, pomegranate attained economic status after 1985–1986 and now could be cultivated on scientific traces, especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

The pomegranate fruits are produced in areas with freezing winters and warm dry summers. It is far native to primary Asia, but for this reason, that tree is noticeably adaptive to a vast variety of climates and soil conditions. It has been grown in many different geographical areas including the Mediterranean basin, Asia and California.

In India pomegranate is frequently defined as an element in remedies and considered in Ayurveda as a traditional medicinal drug. By using its products, including seed, it is regarded as a rich source of phytochemicals with excessive antioxidant properties, therefore owning health advantages. The oil acquired from pomegranate seeds is thought to its practical and beneficial fitness properties. Pomegranate seeds are used as a spice known as anar dana (from Persian: anar + dana‎, pomegranate + seed), maximum notably in Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

Dried seeds can often be received in ethnic Indian markets. Seeds of the wild pomegranate variety are referred to as daru. Pomegranate seeds are a rich source of dietary fiber (20% DV) which is fit for human consumption. Pomegranate is a polyphenol-rich fruit juice with excessive antioxidant ability. Alternaria fruit spot is the most common disease in pomegranates.

Symptoms:

• This fungus causes two primary symptoms in pomegranate that don't necessarily appear concurrently. Generally known as black spot and fruit heart rot.

• In the case of black spot disease, it is characterized by the arrival of small, reddish-brown or black spots (1-3 mm) surrounded by a yellow halo on fruits and leaves. As the ailment progresses, these spots coalesce to shape huge patches that can cover as much as 50 % of the fruit area. On leaves, they turn out to be chlorotic and may result in premature shedding.

• Whereas, in case of heart rot outer part of the fruit begin rotting, even as the suitable-for-eating tissues remain undamaged. A slightly extraordinary fruit color or modifications in the shape of fruit can be an external sign of heart rot but often fruit maintains its healthy appearance until harvest.

Favorable environmental conditions:

Temperature above 20 degree Celsius (20-35 degree Celsius), whereas relative humidity above 85% (85-100 %) favor the disease development.

Management of Alternaria fruit spot of pomegranate:

Preventive measure

• Use healthy planting material from certified sources.

• Provide good drainage to the fields as water stress or over-watering may result in fruit cracking.

• Fertilizer doses should be applied properly.

• Removal of old planting material and any plant debris.

Chemical control

Products primarily based on azoxystrobin or propiconazole had been proven fairly effective. Two preventive spraying throughout the blooming period or at the time of symptoms appearance gives the best control against the pathogen. It's far critical to observe the required concentrations and to use fungicides with a different modes of application to prevent resistance.