Fruit rot of sweet cherries and raspberries caused by Penicillium crustosum and Mucor piriformis in South Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

Cherries and raspberries are important fruit crops in Patagonia, Argentina. A high proportion (50%) of raspberry production is organic certified and sold for fresh and frozen domestic markets. Due to post-harvest rot diseases, cherries and raspberries from Patagonia are kept in cold storage for a short period of time. During the storage season of 2012–2013, fruit rot samples were obtained from conventional and organic sweet cherry and raspberry orchards in the Andean zone of Central Patagonia. Penicillium crustosum and Mucor piriformis were isolated from both types of production systems and identified through morphological and molecular analysis; their pathogenicity was confirmed based on their virulence (incidence and severity). To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming Penicillium crustosum and Mucor piriformis causing post-harvest disease on cherries and raspberries in Argentina, and it contributes to expanding the knowledge on emerging pathogens.