Review article

https://doi.org/10.31727/gzb.48.6.8

Fruit diseases of pomegranate – etiology, symptoms and control

Tihomir Miličević ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important cultivated fruit species in the Mediterranean region of Croatia (especially in the Neretva valley). Traditionally, it was considered a fruit species that is not susceptible to attack by plant pathogens. However, in the last ten or more years, diseases become an increasing problem in pomegranate cultivation, especially fruit diseases, which most often occur in the form of various types of fruit rots. The first fruit disease that was identified in Croatia on pomegranate in 2007, was the fruit scab caused by the pathogenic fungus Sphaceloma punicae, and it appeared in a high epidemic intensity in 2016. Since then, an increasing occurrence of symptoms of other fruit diseases has been observed that are significantly more dangerous and problematic than the fruit scab. These diseases can be called fruit rots, and they can be caused by fungal species from the genera Coniella (Pilidiella), Alternaria, Penicillium, Botrytis and Aspergillus. In addition to the above-mentioned species, other pathogens are also cited in the world as possible causes of various pomegranate fruit rots, such as species of fungi from the genera Colletotrichum, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Globisporangium, etc. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to decribe etiology of these fruit diseases, their symptomatology and the possibility of control. According to previous observations in recent years, the main problem on fruits of pomegranate is Coniella fruit rot, which is caused by the species Coniella granati, and which was identified in Croatia in 2022. In the world, it is also cited as the most common and most dangerous pomegranate fruit disease. In the last ten or more years, there have been numerous reports of the appearance of this pathogenic species all over the Mediterranean, from the Levant (Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, etc.), through North Africa (Tunisia, Algeria, etc.), Italy and all the way to Spain, but also in America (California). In addition to the difficulty in distinguishing the symptoms of these diseases, the biggest problem in cultivation of pomegranate is the limitation of effective control measures.

Keywords

Pomegranate, diseases, fruits, etiology, symptoms, control

Hrčak ID:

341569

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/341569

Publication date:

12.12.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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