Occurrence of Blue Mold on Tomato Caused by Penicillium oxalicum in Korea

Kwon, Jin Hyeuk; Shen, Shun Shan; Lee, Hyeong Jin

The Plant Pathology Journal 2008;24(1):87-89.
Published online March 31, 2008.

Occurrence of Blue Mold on Tomato Caused by Penicillium oxalicum in Korea

Jin Hyeuk Kwon, Shun Shan Shen, Hyeong Jin Lee

Abstract

rough wounds or cracks on the fruits. Symptoms began with water soaking lesions, then became watery and softened eventually. Colony of the causal fungus was white at the early growing stage, turned green on Czapek yeast extract agar and malt extract agar. Conidia were ellipsoidal in shape and 2-6×2-4 μm in size. Stipes were septate, smooth, thin walled, and 90-280×3-4 μm in size. Penicilli were mostly biverticillate. Ramuli were 1-3 groups, smooth, and 10-16×2-3 μm in size. Rami were 1- 2 groups and 6-30×2-4 μm in size. Metulae were 2-3(5) verticils, smooth, and 12-20×3-4 μm in size. Phialides were 5-7 verticilate, ampulliform to cylindroidal, smooth, and 8-12×2-3 μm in size. Optimum temperature for growth was about 25℃. Pathogenicity of the fungus was proved on tomato fruit according to Koch,s postulation. On the basis of mycological and pathological characteristics, the fungus was identified as P. oxalicum Currie & Thom. This is the first report of the blue mold on tomato fruit caused by P. oxalicum in Korea.

Key Words: blue mold, Penicillium oxalicum, tomato