Postharvest rot and mummification of strawberry fruits caused by Neofusicoccum parvum and N. kwambonambiense in Brazil

Abstract

In addition to the rots that are commonly found on strawberries, a new disease was found in 7% of stored fruits during a survey of strawberry diseases at the postharvest stage. Koch's postulates were satisfied, and the fungi were identified as Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense and N. parvum based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers, β-tubulin, RNA polymerase subunit II and transcription elongation factor 1-α regions. This is the first report of Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense in Brazil and the first report of Neofusicoccum spp. causing mummification and postharvest rot of strawberry.