Abstract
Differences in tree vigour as a result of feeder root destruction by Phytophthora cinnamomi were found to significantly (P < 0.05) influence disease susceptibility, fruit ripening rates and fruit size of ‘Hass’ avocado. Fruits from root rot-affected, non-vigorous trees had less anthracnose and took longer to ripen. However, they were probably unmarketable due to their small fruit size compared with fruits from healthy vigorous trees. Fruits from non-vigorous trees also had less pepper spot than vigorous trees, but only on the inside of the tree canopy. The increased disease resistance of fruits from non-vigorous trees was related to a 40% increase in the concentration of Ca in the fruit flesh.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker AS, Smith RL (1974) Preparation of solutions for atomic absorption analyses of Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in plant tissue. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 22, 103–107.
Bateman DF, Lumsden RD (1965) Relation of calcium content and nature of the pectic substances in bean hypocotyls of different ages to susceptibility to an isolate of Rhizoctonia solani. Phytopathology 55, 734–738.
Carpita NC, Gibeaut DM (1993) Structural models of primary cell walls in flowering plants: consistency of molecular structure with the physical properties of the walls during growth. The Plant Journal 3, 1–30. doi: 10.1046/J.1365-313X.1993.00999.X
Chaplin GR, Scott KJ (1980) Association of calcium in chilling injury susceptibility of stored avocados. HortScience 15, 514–515.
Conway WS, Greene GM, Hickey KD (1987) Effects of preharvest and postharvest calcium treatments of peaches on decay caused by Monilinia fructicola. Plant Disease 71, 1084–1086.
Conway WS, Jansiiewicz WJ, Klein JD, Sams CE (1999) Strategy for combining heat treatment, calcium infiltration, and biological control to reduce postharvest decay of ‘Gala’ apples. HortScience 34, 700–704.
Conway WS, Sams CE (1983) Calcium infiltration of Golden Delicious apples and its effect on decay. Phytopathology 73, 1068–1071.
Conway WS, Sams CE (1984) Possible mechanisms by which postharvest calcium treatment reduces decay in apples. Phytopathology 74, 208–210.
Conway WS, Sams CE (1987) The effects of postharvest infiltration of calcium, magnesium, or strontium on decay, firmness, respiration, and ethylene production in apples. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 112, 300–303.
Conway WS, Sams CE, McGuire RG, Kelman A (1992) Calcium treatment of apples and potatoes to reduce postharvest decay. Plant Disease 76, 329–334.
Cutting JGM, Bower JP (1990) Spring vegetative flush removal: the effect on yield, size, fruit mineral composition and quality. South African Avocado Growers ’ Association Yearbook 13, 33–34.
Darvas JM, Toerien JC, Milne DL (1984) Control of avocado root rot by trunk injection with phosethyl-Al. Plant Disease 68, 691–693.
Demarty M, Morvan C, Thellier M (1984) Calcium and the cell wall. Plant, Cell and Environment 7, 441–448.
Ho LC, Belda R, Brown M, Andrews J, Adams P (1993) Uptake and transport of calcium and the possible causes of blossom-end rot in tomato. Journal of Experimental Botany 44, 509–518.
Hofman P, Whiley T, Marques R (1999) Fruit quality and nutrition—the role of rootstocks. Talking Avocados 10, 26–27.
Johnson GI, Mead AJ, Cooke AW, Dean JR (1992) Mango stem end rot pathogens—fruit infection by endophytic colonisation of the inflorescence and pedicel. The Annals of Applied Biology 120, 225–234.
Joyce DC, Johnson GI, Gosbee MJ (1998) Does preharvest stress of plants affect postharvest decay of their fruit? In ‘Disease resistance in fruit’. (Eds GI Johnson, E Highley, DC Joyce) ACIAR Proceedings 80, 39–45.
Kirkby EA, Pilbeam DJ (1984) Calcium as a plant nutrient. Plant, Cell and Environment 7, 397–405.
McGuire RG, Kelman A (1986) Calcium in potato tuber cell walls in relation to tissue maceration by Erwinia carotovora pv. atroseptica. Phytopathology 76, 401–406.
Pagel W, Heitefuss R (1990) Enzyme activities in soft rot pathogenesis of potato tubers: effects of calcium, pH and degree of pectin esterification on the activities of polygalacturonase and pectate lyase. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 37, 9–25.
Perring MA (1979) The effects of environment and cultural practices on calcium concentration in the apple fruit. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 10, 279–293.
Pusey PL (1989) Influence of water stress on susceptibility of nonwounded peach bark to Botryosphaeria doth idea. Plant Disease 73, 1000–1003.
Sams CE, Conway WS, Abbott JA, Lewis RJ, Ben-Shalom N (1993) Firmness and decay of apples following postharvest pressure infiltration of calcium and heat treatments. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 118, 623–627.
Simmons SL, Hofman PJ, Whiley AW, Hetherington SE (1998) Effects of leaf: fruit ratios on fruit growth, mineral concentration and quality of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Kensington Pride). The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 73, 367–374.
Stockwell V, Hanchey P (1982) Cytohistochemical techniques for calcium localization and their application to diseased plants. Plant Physiology 70, 244–251.
Willingham SL, Cooke AW, Coates LM, Pegg KG (2000) Pepper spot: A new preharvest Colletotrichum disease of avocado cv. Hass. Australasian Plant Pathology 29, 151. doi:10.1071/AP00025
Wills RBH, Tirmazi SIH (1982) Inhibition of ripening of avocados with calcium. Scientia Horticulture 16, 323–330. doi: 10.1016/0304-4238(82)90031-0
Witney GW, Hofman PJ, Wolstenholme BN (1990) Effect of cultivar, tree vigour and fruit position on calcium accumulation in avocado fruits. Scientia Horticulture 44, 269–278. doi: 10.1016/0304-4238(90)90127-Z
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Willingham, S.L., Coates, L.M., Cooke, A.W. et al. Tree vigour influences disease susceptibility of ‘Hass’ avocado fruits. Australasian Plant Pathology 33, 17–21 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1071/AP03079
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AP03079