Mucor indicus

Mucor indicus is a soil-borne fungus belonging to the Mucorales order, recognized as a significant causative agent of mucor rot in various agricultural crops. This opportunistic pathogen is highly effective at invading plant tissues that have been damaged or compromised, leading to rapid tissue decay and significant post-harvest losses.

The fungus typically infects a wide range of produce, including vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions, and various soft fruits like tomatoes or berries. In storage facilities, Mucor indicus can cause rapid outbreaks, spreading quickly from an initial point of infection to adjacent healthy fruits through direct contact or spore dispersion.

Symptoms of the disease are characterized by the rapid development of a dense, white-to-greyish fluffy mycelium on the surface of the plant tissue. As the fungus matures, it forms black sporangia, giving the infected area a dark, moldy appearance. The underlying tissue loses its cellular integrity, resulting in soft, watery rot and a distinct fermentative odor.

The development of Mucor indicus is heavily favored by warm temperatures and high humidity levels within storage environments. The fungus is extremely resilient, surviving in soil debris or on contaminated surfaces, which allows it to persist between growing seasons and re-infect new crops whenever environmental conditions become favorable.

Effective management and prevention of this fungal infection require rigorous sanitation and environmental control:

• Maintaining dry and well-ventilated conditions in storage warehouses.
• Handling harvested produce with extreme care to prevent skin abrasions.
• Sanitizing storage equipment and containers with approved disinfectants.
• Implementing strict crop rotation to reduce the load of fungal spores in the soil.
• Removing and destroying infected plant material immediately upon detection to prevent spreading.