Context

Over the last decade, many resources have been devoted to learning the epidemiology and how to control the rot caused by Monilinia spp., the primary pathogen affecting stone fruit, but the sudden emergence over the last 3-4 years of Geotrichum spp., which causes acid rot with rates of incidence that are in some cases even higher than Monilia spp., means that it is essential to study it at both a basic level, determining its epidemiology and the infectious process of the fungus, and in terms of measures for its control in the field and/or post-harvest that reduce its incidence as much as possible. In fact, no fungal treatment dealing specifically with this fungus is currently available, and although the effectiveness of some active substances has been reported in other countries, in Spain they are either not authorised for crops, or they have been used and are not very effective.
The emergence of this new scenario in which Geotrichum is becoming increasingly common is therefore a major challenge for companies in the sector, who will have to face a new enemy which has an unknown epidemiology, and with no known weapons to bring it under control.
While it is true that the source of an inoculum is in the field, it is post-harvest where its aggressiveness leads to most losses and claims. As a result, the financial impact of a shipment affected by acid rot that reaches the target market, e.g. containers that are exported to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, is not only economically significant, but it also affects the customer's confidence, and has environmental implications.