What to Do About Rotten Zucchini Fruit? Latest Causes and Control Methods
Zucchini is a common vegetable in our daily lives, and one that many people enjoy. During zucchini cultivation, rotten fruit often occurs, seriously affecting zucchini yield and quality and reducing farmers' income. So how should zucchini fruit rot be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Gray mold
Gray mold damages flowers, fruit, stems, leaves and other parts. The pathogen first invades from withered female flowers. In the early stage, the petals appear water-soaked or water-stained, then gradually soften and rot, accompanied by a grayish-brown mold layer. This causes the petals to rot and fall off, after which the pathogen spreads to the young fruit, and the affected area gradually softens and rots, with large amounts of gray mold appearing. When the disease occurs on the stems, gray lesions appear, and after circling the stem, they cause the stem to break.
Control methods: For gray mold, iprodione can be used preventively when dipping flowers. When the disease occurs, spray iprodione or vinclozolin for control, or use a dimethachlon smoke agent for fumigation control.
2. Sclerotinia rot
This disease mainly damages fruit and stems. When fruit is infected, it first shows water-soaked rot, after which white mycelium grows at the affected area, and the mycelium spreads black sclerotia. When stems are infected, they initially appear water-soaked, the diseased part turns brown, and later white and black sclerotia gradually grow, while the stems and leaves above the diseased part wither and die.
Control methods: When planting, clean the field and disinfect the soil to reduce the source of pathogens. The control methods are similar to those for gray mold.
3. Fruit rot
Fruit rot, as the name suggests, is a disease that damages the fruit. The pathogen usually infects from the flower base and wounds. In the early stage, it appears water-stained, then gradually turns brown and soft-rots, and in the later stage white or pink mold-like growth appears at the affected area, and finally the whole fruit rots. The pathogen of this disease overwinters in the soil, and fruit is highly susceptible when it contacts the soil. Infection is very likely when humidity is high, water and fertilizer management is improper, and fruit cracking occurs.
Control methods: To control fruit rot, first adopt high-ridge plastic film mulching cultivation techniques, increase the application of organic fertilizer, enhance plant immunity, reduce wounds, and promptly remove diseased fruit when found. In the early stage of the disease, spray copper sulfate, oxadixyl, metalaxyl-copper and other agents for control, or use carbendazim as a root drench.
4. Soft rot
When soft rot occurs, it appears brown and water-stained, then quickly softens, and the inside of the affected area rots. This disease spreads extremely quickly, and after the diseased fruit rots it gives off a foul odor, but there is no mold fuzz, which is the biggest difference from other diseases. It is a bacterial disease, spread through rain and watering as well as insects, and is prone to occur in environments with poor field ventilation and high humidity.
Control methods: When the disease occurs, copper-based preparations can be used for control, such as copper abietate emulsifiable concentrate, copper succinate-glutarate, and kasugamycin-copper oxychloride wettable powder, sprayed once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times, with good results.
The above is an introduction to the causes and control methods of zucchini fruit rot. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.