6 STATION BULLETIN 356 



Table 2. — Losses from Organisms under Two Different Storage 



Conditions. 1942-43 



Warm Storage* Cold Storage** 



Temperature 60°-70'F. Temperature 32°-42°F. 



Relative Humidity 30-60 Per Cent Relative Humidity 85-95 Per Cent 



Percentage Loss Percentage Loss 



Rhizopus sp. 12.12 5.00 



Alternaria sp. 1.26 38.00 



Fusarium sp. 31.26 43.00 



Mvcosphaerella citrullina 53.26 4.00 



Botrytis sp. 20.00 



Unknown 2.10 



*Data on 300 Blue Hubbard squash 

 **Data on 100 Blue Hubbard squash 



The org-anisms causing squash rots were found to differ in type 

 and intensity under the variotis storage conditions. Figure 2 shows 

 a black rot lesion, as it developed on the side of a Blue Hubbard 

 squash in the warm storage. Figure 3 shows the numerous lesions 

 which developed under cold storage conditions. These lesions are 

 caused by Fusarium and Alternaria or Cladosporium followed by Al- 

 ternaria. 



In Table 2. it will be noted that in the warm storage 60^-70° F.. 

 Rhizopus. Fusarium. and Mycosphaerella. causing respectively the 

 diseases known as soft rot. dry rot. and black rot. were the important 

 agents causing spoilage. 



In the cold storage 32^-42" F.. Rhizopus became less important, 

 but a soft rot developed caused by a Botr\-tis. Dr\- rot caused by 

 Mycosf'haerella eitruUina was of little importance. Certain squash 

 showing black rot lesions were placed in cold storage : these spots 

 did not increase in size during the storage period. Fusarium. Alter- 

 naria. and Botrytis were responsible for the major losses under cold 

 storag^e conditions. 



Since black rot was the most important disease under normal 

 storage conditions, data were taken to determine where infections 

 from this disease occurred on the fruits. See Table 3. 



The outstandings feature of these data is the high proportion of 

 stem-end infections. Side infections at uninjured places or ver>- small 



Table 3. — Losses in Storage from Black Rot. 1942-43. Data Showing 



Where Infection Occurred 



Number 

 Black Rot Infections squash lost 



Storage Period Side Stem Blossom end At injuries out of 300 



