Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Nowadays Dragon fruit crop has become very important due to its high nutrient content. But farmers are facing serious problem in cultivating Dragon fruit crop due to several fungal diseases resulting in yield loss. So the present study was undertaken to isolate the pathogenic fungi causing stem, flower and fruit rot disease on Hylocereus undalus (Haw) Britton & Rose. (Dragon fruit) plant Kathige village, Honnali Taluk, Davangere District. It is necessary to identify the causal agent in order to manage the disease. There were 21 pathogenic fungal species isolated from diseased part of stem, root, flower and fruit. Among them 18 spp. isolated from stem part, nine from flower, four from fruit and only one sp. from root part. Colletorichum gloeosporioides isolated in all samples causes Anthracnose of stem, root, flower and fruit and is most widely reported sp. Flower and fruit rot caused by Bipolaries cactivora, Colletotrichum truncatum results in yield loss. There is an increasing demand for Dragon fruit due to medicinal and industrial uses the production should be productive and profitable. But because of fungal disease Dragon fruit production become reduced. As the fruits are imported and exported to meet the demand it is necessary to identify the fungal pathogen for the monitoring of the diseases.