Ceratocystis paradoxa

Ceratocystis paradoxa or Black Rot of Pineapple is a plant pathogen that is a fungus part of the phylum Ascomycota. It is characterized as the teleomorph or sexual reproduction stage of infection. This stage contains ascocarps, or sacs/fruiting bodies, which contain the sexually produced inoculating ascospores. These are the structures which are used primarily to survive long periods of time or overwinter to prepare for the next growing season of its host. Unfortunately, the sexual stage is not often seen in the natural field but instead the anamorph, or asexual stage is more commonly seen. This asexual stage name is Thielaviopsis paradoxa and is the common cause of Black rot or stem-end rot of its hosts. One of the most well-known diseases caused by Ceratocystis paradoxa is Black rot or stem-end rot of pineapple, but it can also infect tropical fruit plants such as banana and coconuts as well as sugarcane. The pathogen infects the fruits through wounds or other openings after harvest has already happened and the fruit is fresh. This is because the time to processing takes too long. Symptoms for this disease are very obvious black lesions on the fruit, the main infection part of the plant. If the pathogen infects the plant while fruits are still on it, they will prematurely drop. Other symptoms include discoloration of leaves as well as the seeds. The lesions on the fruit evolve to become soft rot spots that produce a heinous odor. The fruit can even get to the point of breakdown. Known Hosts: Ananas comosus (pineapple) Araceae Areca catechu (betelnut palm) Borassus flabellifer (toddy palm)