POSTBLOOM FRUIT DROP, A NEW DISEASE OF CITRUS ASSOCIATED WITH A FORM OF COLLETOTRICHUM-GLOEOSPORIOIDES

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was shown to be associated with postbloom fruit drop disease of citrus, a serious problem on sweet oranges in Belize. Early symptoms are brown or water‐soaked spots on the petals, followed by corolla necrosis. Subsequently most fruitlets absciss, leaving calyces and pedicels as characteristic green ‘buttons’. Susceptibility of flower buds to C. gloeosporioides infection was shown to increase up to the time of opening; blossom infection occurred within 18 h at 19–30°C. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved