Symptoms
Dark sunken lesions on fruit, stems, and leaves. Salmon-pink spore masses in wet weather. Premature fruit drop. Most severe in warm humid conditions.
Prevention
Use disease-free seeds and transplants. Practice crop rotation. Avoid overhead irrigation. Space plants for air circulation. Remove infected debris.
Treatment
Organic
Copper-based fungicide spray. Bacillus subtilis biological control. Hot water seed treatment (52°C, 30 min).
Chemical (last resort)
Apply mancozeb or chlorothalonil preventively. Azoxystrobin for active infections. Rotate chemical groups.
Affects 7 crops
Sources
MARDI Tropical Disease Guide