AUTHOR=Nuangmek Wipornpan , Suwannarach Nakarin , Sukyai Sahattaya , Khitka Bunruam , Kumla Jaturong 

TITLE=Fungal pathogens causing postharvest anthracnose and fruit rot in Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) from northern Thailand and their fungicide response profiles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1634557

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2025.1634557

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) is an economically important crop in Thailand. During 2024–2025, anthracnose and rot symptoms were observed on postharvest Indian jujube fruits in northern Thailand. Thus, this study aimed to identify the causal agents and evaluate their fungicide response. Nine fungal strains were isolated and identified as Colletotrichum fructicola, C. siamense, and Fusarium weifangense through morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Pathogenicity tests confirmed C. fructicola and C. siamense cause postharvest anthracnose, while F. weifangense causes fruit rot. Fungicide assays revealed that C. siamense was completely inhibited by copper oxychloride and copper hydroxide, with captan, cyproconazole, difenoconazole + azoxystrobin, and difenoconazole also showing effectiveness against most strains. Colletotrichum fructicola was most effectively inhibited by difenoconazole, although no fungicide achieved complete inhibition. Fusarium weifangense was fully inhibited by carbendazim, copper hydroxide, and cyproconazole, but was not suppressed by azoxystrobin. This represents the first report of C. fructicola and C. siamense causing anthracnose in Indian jujube in Thailand, and the first worldwide report of F. weifangense causing fruit rot in this crop. These findings provide crucial insights for developing effective management strategies against postharvest diseases of Indian jujube.