ABSTRACT
Introduction and significance Black mold disease affects only ripe tomato fruit. Significant fruit losses can occur if environmental conditions favor disease development.
Symptoms and diagnostic features On ripe tomato fruit the initial symptoms consist of irregularly shaped flecks and stains on the cuticle. The affected areas are small and tan to brown. With suitable environmental conditions, the small infected areas expand into large, sunken, circular to oval-shaped lesions that can extend deep into the fruit (454). The black, velvety growth of the pathogen covers the surface of the lesions (455). Lesions break down and the fruit will rot. The large infected areas can also support the growth of other decay fungi such as Stemphylium species, which are considered by some researchers to be weak tomato fruit pathogens, and Cladosporium and Aspergillus species, which are saprobes. Postharvest spread of the disease can occur if infected fruit are stored for long periods.
