50 MISC. PUBLICATION 4 9 8, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



gummy exudate, are apparently caused by growing conditions in the 

 field. Before the fruit is picked the organisms enter the cracks, initiate 

 the shallow decay, and produce the typically colored sporulation, pink 

 or white with Fusarium and blue green with Penicillium. 



The only control measures that can be suggested are the maintenance 

 of good growing conditions in the field and control of the insects 

 infesting the plants. 



(See 2,71,102.) 



INTERNAL BREAK-DOWN 



A firm, light -brown water soaking of flesh has been observed in ship- 

 ments of a large-fruited variety of pineapples from Mexico. This 

 break-down appears first in the base of the fruitlets near their attach- 

 ment to the core in a region an inch or tAvo above the base of the fruit. 

 The water soaking extends outward and upward in the fruit, involving 

 all the tissue in the f nutlet except the ovary and a layer approximately 

 one-fourth inch deep below the skin. Only in advanced stages do the 

 surface of the fruit and the core area become discolored. Hence, in 

 most fruits there may be no external symptoms of the trouble. 



The disease is considered to be physiological, since no organism has 

 been found constantly associated with it. Fruits with most extensive 

 break-down are generally overripe; this may indicate that overma- 

 turity is a contributing factor. However, a somewhat similar type of 

 break-down can be produced by heavy waxing of mature green fruits 

 or bv holding them in small air-tight containers. 



(See 125.) 



Pomegranates 



gray mold rot 



(Botrytis sp.) 



Pomegranates on the market are occasionally affected with a light- 

 brown, firm decay starting at the calyx. The decayed skin is tough 

 and leathery, but the inner portion of the fruit is dark and disin- 

 tegrated. Under moist conditions sparse mycelium of a dirty-gray 

 color appears on the decayed area. At various points in the mycelium 

 the typical tan-gray spore-bearing tufts develop. 



Control measures for the disease have not been reported. It is prob- 

 able, however, that the development of the rot in transit and storage 

 can be greatly retarded if the temperature is kept below 45° F. (43). 



HEART ROT 



(Species of Aspergillus and Alternaria) 



Heart rot is found only occasionally in pomegranates on the market, 

 but in some years it is so prevalent in the orchard that heavy culling 

 in the packing house is made necessary. The decay has been found 

 in fruit from various producing districts of the southwestern United 

 States. It rarely appears on the surface of the fruit, but the skin 

 color of affected fruits is slightly abnormal so that experienced graders 

 can eliminate most of it from the pack. Diseased fruits when opened 

 are found to contain a mass of blackened arils (the pulp-bearing seeds) 

 and usually a threadlike black line of decay extending from the calyx 

 into the interior of the fruit (pi. 19, C). 



