ABSTRACT
The stone fruits, viz., apricot, peach, plum, cherries, nectarines, etc., are highly perishable fruits, susceptible to a number of diseases which reduce their economic value as well as reducing their shelf life. The important postharvest diseases of stone fruits are brown rot (Monilinia spp.) and grey or green rot (Botrytis spp.). Rots may also be caused by various species of Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Geotrichum. The disease severity caused by a particular pathogen varies depending on the humid or arid conditions. Symptoms vary from slight blemishes to complete rotting of the fruits. Fruits may be infected in the field, at the time of harvest or during storage. A range of environmental conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, play a role in disease development. The diseases can be managed by adopting multipronged strategy of chemicals, biocontrol agents, physical and cultural methods as well as resistance of the host crops.
