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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65280
Title: COMPARISON OF A LATENT AND NON-LATENT FUNGAL INFECTION OF CANTALOUPE FRUIT

Author
item ZHANG, JIUXU - 6222-05-05
item BILES, C - EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
item Bruton, Benny

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Latent infections in cantaloupe fruit cause severe losses and limit export possibilities. When Phomopsis cucurbitae (latent)and Fusarium semitectum (non-latent) were grown in shake cultures consisting of melon exocarp of 20 and 40 day-old fruit tissue, both produced polygalacturanase. Pectolytic enzymes from natural infections by P. cucurbitae and F. semitectum demonstrated significantly different maceration patterns when exposed to cantaloupe exocarp tissue. The F. semitectum enzymes produced a similar maceration pattern on 20, 30, 40 (mature), and 50 day old fruit tissues, whereas, the P. cucurbitae enzymes produced little maceration of fruit tissue up until the 50 day fruit were exposed. Preliminary results suggest that inhibitor factors active against P. cucurbitae may be operating in cantaloupe prior to harvest. The same does not appear to be true for F. semitectum.