Agricultural Research and Reviews Vol. 1(5), pp.

162 -165, June 2012

Available online at http://www.wudpeckerresearchjournals.org/ARR
2012 Wudpecker Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Management of post-harvest black mould fruit rot of

pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) caused by
Aspergillus niger (Tieghem)
M. K. Khokhar and J. P. Tetarwal
Department of Plant Pathology, SKN College of Agriculture, RAU, Jobner 303329, Rajasthan.
Accepted 18 April 2012

Lab experiment was conducted at department of plant pathology, SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner,
Jaipur, Rajasthan, during 2008 to 09, Fruits were treated with different fungicides, oils and foodpreservatives showed effective control of the fruit rot. Bavistin (0.1%) and Indofil M-45 (0.2%) were
found to be most effective against the fruit-rot. Castor oil (4.0%) and neem oil (4.0%) were significantly
effective in both pre-and post-inoculation treatments. KMS (Potassium metabisulphate) 0.5% and
sodium benzoate (0.5%) were also found to be effective food-preservatives in reducing the severity of
the fruit rot.
Key words: Black mould, pomegranate, management.

INTRODUCTION
Pomegranate (punica granatum l.) is an important
favourite fruit of tropical, sub-tropical and arid regions
with their taste and sustenance. It belongs to the family
Punicaceae and is believed to originate from the Middle
East (Iran and adjoining countries) and spread to most
tropical and subtropical countries of the world. It is
extensively cultivated in Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Spain,
Morocco, Afghanistan, India and in some place of
Myanmar, China, Japan, California, South Italy and
Bulgaria (Mitra et al., 1999). Pomegranate fruits are the
good sources of carbohydrates and mineral such as Ca,
Fe and S and a moderate source of pectin (Waskar,
2006).
The pomegranate fruit suffered from several fruit rot
diseases (Kanwar and Thakur, 1973). Post-harvest black
mould fruit rot is important problem for the fruit production
the entire world. Aspergillus rot infections begin most
commonly in the orchard following rain during flowering
and early fruit development. Similar to Alternaria fruit rot,
the fungus may grow within the fruit often without external
symptoms. However, infected fruit generally are slightly
off-color such as a paler red and may show some
yellowish to brownish-red discoloration. In the storage

*Corresponding author. Email: khokharmk3@gmail.com.

period of the pomegranate faced with a lot of rot

diseases. The incidence of post-harvest black mould fruit
rot of pomegranate was found to be 10 to 20%. Many
fungicides are used against these diseases and these
fungicides leads to residue on the fruit. So use of the oils is
important for the human health. This study is also important
for human health, pomegranate storage problems,
marketing and pomegranate production economy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Pomegranate fruit of uniform maturity were surface sterilized with
mercuric chloride solution and inoculated with pathogen by cork
borer wounding method. Fungicides and their concentration tested
against the rot of pomegranate were as follows: Fungicides- Indofil
M-45 (0.2%), Bavistin 50% WP (0.1%), Captan 50% WP (0.2%),
Kavach 75% WP (0.2%), Blitox-50 (0.2%); Oils- Mustard oil (4.0%),
Neem oil (4.0%), Castor oil (4.0%), Soybean oil (4.0%), and linseed
oil (4.0%); Food preservatives- KMS (potassium metabisulphite
0.5%), sodium benzoate (0.5%), acetic acid (0.5%) and common
salt (10.0%). The experiment was arranged in completely
randomized design with four replications in each treatment. In the
pre inoculation treatment, the fruits were first dipped in the test
chemical and oils for 5 minutes and food preservatives for 10
minutes and then inoculated. The interval between inoculation and
dip treatment was 12 hours and 24 hours in case of food
preservatives. While in the post-inoculation treatment, the fruits
were first inoculated (air tight jar in food preservatives) and then
treated with the chemical. Proper controls with and without teepol

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Agric. Res. Rev.

Table 1: Effect of pre-inoculation treatment with fungicides on severity of black mould fruit rot of
pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10 C

Fungicides

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Indofil M-45
Bavistin 50% WP
Captan 50% WP
Kavach 75% WP
Blitox-50
Control
SEm+
CD at 5%

0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
-

3 days after
inoculation
4.60
3.75
5.20
6.09
8.50
10.00
0.15
0.44

th

6 days after
inoculation
6.00
4.25
7.00
9.00
10.50
20.50
0.26
0.78

*Average of four replications

Table 2: Effect of post-inoculation treatment with fungicides on severity of black mould fruit rot of
pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10 C

Fungicides

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Indofil M-45
Bavistin 50% WP
Captan 50% WP
Kavach 75% WP
Blitox-50
Control
SEm+
CD at 5%

0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
-

3 days after
inoculation
6.00
5.00
7.50
8.25
9.00
11.00
0.20
0.58

th

6 days after
inoculation
8.00
7.50
9.25
10.50
11.50
21.50
0.29
0.87

*Average of four replications

were also maintained. The method of inoculation of pomegranate

fruits, their incubation at 25+10C and the disease assessment were
recorded, formula suggested by Mayee and Datar (1986).
Sum of all numerical ratings
Severity (%) = -------------------------------------------x 100
Number of fruits assessed X Maximum disease rating
The severity was recorded on the basis of per cent fruit area.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

All the fungicides were found significantly superior in
reducing the disease severity as compared to control in
the pre and post inoculation treatment both in 3rd and 6th day
of inoculation (Table 1 and 2). Bavistin proved to be the
most effective followed by Indofil M-45, Captan, Kavach and
Blitox-50. Similar results were also observed by different
fungicides like Bavistin, Indofil M-45, Blitox, Captan and

Kavach etc. have been found effective in checking the

storage rots of citrus fruits caused by different fungal
pathogen (Dar and Mukhopadhayya, 197l; Lal et al., 1981;
Majumdar and Pathak, 1995; Gour and Khatri, 1995; and
Kumar et al., 2005). However, the severity was significantly
reduced with all the oils tried after 6th days of inoculation
(Table 3 and 4). Castor oil was significantly most
effective followed by neem oil, linseed oil, mustard oil and
soybean tried in controlling the rot, in the pre-inoculation
treatment 6th days after inoculation. Similar result were
also observed by Castor oil has been also reported to be
effective against several fruit rots by Pathak et al., 1971;
Khatri and Godara, 1999). Efficacy of neem oil found to
be effective against rot may be due to presence of
Nimbicidin an antifugal substance (Rawat, 1993) was
reported to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger causing
fruit rots in citrus, papaya and mango. The severity was
significantly reduced with all the food preservatives tried
on 6th day of inoculation (Table 5 and 6). However,

Khokhar and Tetarwal

Table 3: Effect of pre-inoculation treatment with oils on severity of black mould fruit rot of
pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10 C

Oils

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Mustard oil
Neem oil
Castor oil
Soybean oil
Linseed oil
Control
SEm+
CD at 5%

3 days after
inoculation
8.00
6.50
4.50
8.50
9.50
10.50
0.20
0.58

4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
-

th

6 days after
inoculation
12.50
9.50
6.75
13.50
16.50
20.00
0.34
0.90

*Average of four replications

Tepol used as solubilizing agent in each oil

Table 4: Effect of post-inoculation treatment with oils on severity of black mould fruit rot of
pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10 C

Oils

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Mustard oil
Neem oil
Castor oil
Soybean oil
Linseed oil
Control
Sem+
CD at 5%

3 days after
inoculation
9.50
8.00
5.00
12.50
10.50
11.00
0.25
0.75

4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
-

th

6 days after
inoculation
12.50
11.50
7.50
18.50
17.50
22.00
0.41
1.20

*Average of four replications

Tepol used as solubilizing agent in each oil

Table 5: Effect of pre-inoculation treatment with food preservatives on severity of black mould fruit rot of
pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10 C

Food preservatives

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Potassium
metabisulphite
Sodium benzoate
Acetic acid
Common salt
Control
SEm+
CD at 5%
*Average of four replications

th

0.5

3 days after
inoculation
7.50

6 days after
inoculation
10.30

0.5
0.5
10.0
-

9.50
8.00
9.50
11.50
0.19
0.57

11.50
12.00
12.50
21.50
0.29
0.87

164

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Agric. Res. Rev.

Table 6: Effect of post-inoculation treatment with food preservatives on severity of black mould fruit
rot of pomegranate fruits incubated after 3rd and 6th days at 25+10C

Food preservatives

Concentration (%)

Aspergillus niger
Severity* (%)
rd

Potassium
metabisulphite
Sodium benzoate
Acetic acid
Common salt
Control
SEm+
CD at 5%

th

0.5

3 days after
inoculation
8.50

6 days after
inoculation
11.00

0.5
0.5
10.0
-

9.00
10.00
10.50
12.50
0.20
0.57

11.50
15.50
16.50
22.00
0.30
0.85

*Average of four replications

potassium metabisulphite was significantly better over

common salt, but was at par with sodium benzoate in
controlling the rot on 6th days after inoculation. Similar
results were also observed by Siddiqui et al., 1987;
Mehta et al., 1986 and Premi et al., 1999).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank the Head Department of
Plant pathology and Dean, SKN college of Agriculture,
Jobner, jaipur for providing necessary facilities.
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