Effect of Preharvest Pear Fruit Maturity on Decay Resistance

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Abstract
Quantitative monthly changes in resistance of attached and detached ''Anjou'', ''Bartlett'' and ''Bosc'' pear fruits to several decay fungi were determined. During the last month before harvest, susceptibility to decay caused by Mucor piriformis increased in ''Anjou'' and ''Bartlett'' and susceptibility to decay caused by Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum increased in ''Anjou.'' Susceptibility of ''Bartlett'' to B. cinerea and P. expansum appeared to increase gradually during the growing season. Fruits inoculated 3 or 4 mo. before harvest with B. cinerea, M. piriformi, and P. expansum were highly resistant to decay. However, fruits were susceptible to Pezicula malicorticis 4 mo. before harvest, and susceptibility continued throughout the growing season. This pattern of decay resistance also was evident in detached fruits. Detached fruits inoculated with P. malicorticis and Phialophora malorum and incubated at 20.degree. C were not infected, but severe decay occurred when fruits were incubated at -1.1.degree. C.

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