Occurrence of Rhizopus Soft Rot on Peach (Prunus persica var. vulgaris) Caused by Rhizopus nigricans in Korea

A soft rot of fruits caused by Rhizopus nigricans occurred on peach (Prunus persica var. vulgaris) in The Chinju City Agricultural Products Wholesale Marke during in summer season of 2000. The disease infection usually started from wounding after harvest fruits, and then moved to outside. At first, the lesions started with water soaked and rapidly softened and diseased area gradually expanded. In severely infected film house, the rate of infected fruits reached 65.2%. Numerous sporangiospores were produced on the diseased fruits. Most of the sporangiospores were appeared to be readily dispersed in the air. The mycelia grew surface of fruits and produced stolons. Colonies on potato dextrose agar at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ white cottony at first becoming heavily speckled by the presence of sporangia and the browinish black at maturity, spreading rapidly by means of stolons fired at various points to the substrate by rhizoids. Sporangia were $85.3{\sim}243.5{\times}53.4{\sim}219.2\;{\mu}m$ in size and were globose or sub-globose with. somewhat flattened base. The color of sporangia was white at first and then turned black with many spores, and never over-hanging. Sporangiophores were $8.9{\sim}36.6\;{\mu}m$ in width, smooth-walled, non-septate, light brown, simple, long, arising in groups of $3{\sim}5$ from stolons opposite rhizoids. Sporangiospores was $9.7{\sim}24.8{\times}5.9{\sim}15.8\;{\mu}m$, irregular, round, oval, elongate, angular, and browinish-black streaked. Columella was $70.2{\times}149.7{\mu}m$. brownish gray, and umberella-shaped when dehisced. The causal organism was identified as. Rhizopus nigricans Lind on the basis of the morphiogical characteristics of the fungus. Rhizopus soft rot on peach (Prunus persica) caused by the fungi has not been reported in Korea. This is the first report of rhizopus soft rot on peach caused by Rhizopus nigricans in Korea.