Occurrence and Latent Infection of Alternaria Rot of Pingguoli Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. cv. Pingguoli) Fruits in Gansu, China

Alternaria rot of Pingguoli pear occurred after latent infection. Fruit surfaces were asymptomatic within 60 days storage under cold condition (0°C, RH 85–90%), but black‐grey hyphae could be seen in the lenticels or calyx tube of Pingguoli pear after 90 days of storage. The tissue collapsed and resulted in visible black spots as the hyphae spread over the fruit. Average incidence of Alternaria rot of fruits from an orchard in Gansu was 28.86% at 100 days of storage. The main fungus isolated from the Alternaria rot on stored Pingguoli pear was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr. : Fr.) Keissl. This pathogen was able to initially infect the fruit via two pathways during the growing season, and then remain in a latent state. The fungus first colonized the styles at the full‐blossoming stage, and then grew into the carpel cavities progressively after 50 days from petal fall. The percentage latent infection of A. alternata was up to 45% in the carpel cavity until the harvest time. The fungus also attacked fruit surfaces and remained latent in the fruit peel during fruit development. The percentage of A. alternata latent infection at the calyx end, middle part and stem end of the fruit peel was 40%, 24% and 42.8%, respectively, at harvest time.