Agriculture & Food, Volume 3, 2015

Abstract: Control of C. papaya diseases requires intervention both on the field and post harvest. Leaf and stem diseases may spread to the fruit and result in poor fruit yields. This study described common papaya diseases of the fruit, leaf and stem with associated pathogens of C. papaya L. Powdery mildew affecting fruit, leaf and stem, necrotic stem, Phytophthora blight, stem end rot and Erwinia rots of fruits characterized field diseases while anthracnose, watery soft rot and Alternaria spots were frequent post harvest fruit rots. The primary pathogens were moulds (Alternaria, Rhizopus, Phomopsis, Phytophthora, Oidium and Colletotrichum) and a bacterium, Erwinia. The other bacteria genera isolated (Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Streptococcus and Gram positive short rods) were more of secondary invaders are importantly human pathogens and thus of health significance. Post-harvest damage of C. papaya fruit is influenced by the quality of harvested fruit, an incubating disease and storage conditions.