Reports of Choanephora Rot in South Florida vegetable crops range from medium to low populations, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
In Southwest Florida, crop scouts report Choanephora in multiple pepper fields with low incidences, typical for the current hot fall weather. However, some fields have experienced significant infections leading to plant damage.
In fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area and on the east coast, scouts observed decreasing but moderate levels of Choanephora in beans. In Homestead, Florida, reports indicate increased occurrences of Choanephora rot on squash.
Symptoms appear as black, fuzzy growth on top of fruit with profuse sporulation, leading to fruit rot.
University of Georgia Extension Vegetable Plant Pathologist Bhabesh Dutta cautioned producers during the summer about Choanephora rot.
“This disease is causing symptoms irrespective of the growth stage of the plant. It can cause symptoms and sometimes complete death of the young seedlings. It can cause infection in mature plants and also on fruits,” Dutta said. “I’ve seen in mature plants that are loaded with fruit infected with Choanephora, infecting the fruits, leaves, everything.”