Rhizopus Soft Rot on Momordica charantia Caused by Rhizopus stolonifer in Korea

Kwon, Jin Hyeuk; Jee, Hyeong Jin

Research in Plant Disease 2005;11(2):204-207.
Published online December 30, 2005.

Rhizopus stolonifer에 의한 여주 무름병

권진혁, 지형진

Rhizopus Soft Rot on Momordica charantia Caused by Rhizopus stolonifer in Korea

Jin Hyeuk Kwon, Hyeong Jin Jee

Abstract

A Rhizopus soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer occurred on Momordica charantia at Daesan-myon, Changwon city, Gyeongnam province from 2003 to 2005. The disease usually started from wound on fruit with water-soaking lesions. The lesion rapidly expanded and softened. The fungal mycelia grew vigorously and sporangia, sporangiophores, and stolons were formed on surface of the fruit. Sporangiophores were 15~30 µm in width. Sporangia were globose or hemispheric and 90~180 µm in size. The color of sporangia was white and cottony at first and turned to brownish black with many spores at maturity. Columella were hemispheric and 80~150 µm in size. Sporangiospores were irregular round or oval, brownish-black streaked and 7~18 × 6~12 µm in size. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth of the fungus on PDA was 25℃. On the basis of mycological characteristics and pathogenicity to host plants, the causal fungus was identified as Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenberg ex. Fr.) Lind. This is the first report of Rhizopus soft rot on M. charantia caused by R. stolonifer in Korea.

Key Words: Momordica charantia, Rhizopus soft rot, Rhizopus stolonifer