Fusarium Spp. associated with Pineapple Fusariosis in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of commercially important fruit crop in Malaysia and is widely grown in Johor, Sarawak, and Selangor. The most popular cultivars grown are Josapine, Maspine, Sarawak, Gandul and Morris. Symptoms of fusariosis were observed on fruits and leaves in pineapple farms in the states of Perak, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. Symptoms of Fusariosis were observed on the fruits with brown discoloration and formation of lesions, dry rot, cracks, gum exudation, rotten or sunken fruit skin. Symptoms on other parts of the plant including rotten or sunken stems, stem bending, dry rot of leaves, chlorosis and an increased number of leaves per spiral. The symptoms on fruits and leaves were similar with fusariosis symptoms described by Rohrbach and Schmitt (1994), Matos (1995), and Ploetz (2006).