Wet rot disease of Cereus hexagonus and fruit rot of Syzygium cumini, new to India

During an extensive survey of fungi from Faizabad (U.P.), the author came across two important diseases, viz., wet rot of Cereus hexagonus caused by Periconia byssoides Pers ex Me'rat and fruit rot of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels caused by Rhizopus nigricans Ehrenb. ex Corda, new to India. The specimen has been deposited in the Department of Botany, K.S.S. P.G. College, Faizabad under Accession No. RSK 415 and 558. The brief description of the disease is given below: 

Wet rot disease of Cereus hexagonus:

(Caused by Periconia byssoides Pers ex Me'rat, Collected from Ayodhya. Feb 17, 1979)

              The unbloomed floral buds due to open in 5-6 days showed small, numerous water soaked area on outer surface of hypanthium. Thy enlarged irregularily and involved the entire outer surface of the perianth followed by the formation of light gray conidiophores and condia within 4-5 days. The floral bud became pulpy and finally shed off.

Fruit rot of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels:

(Caused by Rhizopus nigricans Ehrenb. ex Corda; Collected from local fruit market at Ayodhya; June 08, 1980)

               The disease started as small water soaked areas on fruit surface particularly near placental region. The entire fruit surface was covered within 48 hours thereafter, the fruit became soft and pulpy. 

Periconia byssoides and Rhizopus nigricans have been found to cause rot disease in number of plants but not on related hosts described above. This is a new report for country. (PDF Copy at Slideshare.net)

Cited this as: R.S. Kanaujia (1982): Wet rot disease of Cereus hexagonus and fruit rot of Syzygium cumini, new to India. Indian Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology. 12(3):323.