Survey of pineapple fruit collapse (causal Organism: erwinia chrysanthemi) in Selangor and Johore

W.H Lim and P.H Lowings

Abstract

A total of 80 pineapple smallholdings and two estates in Johore and nine small holdings in Selangor were surveyed for pineapple fruit collapse, a disease caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi. The central pineapple areas in the sub-districts of Pontian, Jeram Batu. Rimba terjun and Rengit/Machap have high disease records while the more outlying areas in Muar/Ayer Hitam and Klang had discase-free to almost disease-free situations. The less frequent forcing (by the use of flower inductants) practised.in the latter areas offers the most plausible       explanation for the low incidence observed in those areas; with less frequent forcing, overlapping of disease fruits (the most important inoculum source) and open flowers (the point of entry) is avoided thus leading to reduced or no infection via the open flowers.

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