Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey as the first report of brown rot of peach, (Prunus persica (L) Batsch.) from Meghalaya of North East India

Abstract

Peach, (Prunus persica (L) Batsch.) is one of the most important stone fruit commercially grown in the hills including Meghalaya. During Feb-June, 2020 in a roving survey we have found infection on twigs and leaves of peach at Umiam and Pepbah of Ribhoi and East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The infected part showing symptoms of twig blight, blossom blight, cankers and fruit rot. Samples of young and matured leaf, blossom, twigs etc with infection were collected. We studied the detailed symptomatology, isolated and purified the associated causal organism. Through Koch’s postulate we confirmed the pathogenic association of the causal agent. Further through cultural, morphological, and micrometry study the microorganism was identified as Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey and this is the first report from the Meghalaya of North East India.