Biology, Epidemiology and Management of Diseases Caused by Monilinia Species

Monilinia fungi are pathogens to Rosaceae and Ericaceae, and include some of the most important fruit pathogens worldwide. The most common phytopathogenic Monilinia species include M. fructicola, M. fructigena, and M. laxa. These pathogens are capable of causing a range of diseases including blossom blight, twig canker and brown rot. Different Monilinia spp. can infect their hosts through different parts of plant tissue as well as present different symptoms depending on the host species. If conditions are favourable, brown rot disease can result in significant fruit losses within an orchard and post-harvest in storage and transit. Both M. laxa and M. fructicola can infect intact fruit directly as well as through wounds (as M. fructigena) and natural openings although wounds are most susceptible, which explains why insect management is also critically important in reducing brown rot development in fruit crops. Furthermore, Monilinia spp. can cause latent infections of developing fruit, and visual rot symptoms only manifest as the fruit matures, and post-harvest in storage, transit, markets and consumers’ home.

It is generally accepted that chemical control is more reliable and effective in disease management than other alternative methods, such as biocontrol and physical control strategies. However, sustainable management of brown rot demands us to reduce our reliance on synthetic pesticides whilst developing and implementing alternative methods. To achieve this goal, we need to enhance our understanding of pathogen biology and epidemiology before we can develop more effective alternative strategies to minimise the disease risk. For instance, can we further our understanding on the intrinsic host and fruit-related resistance against fungal infection? Can we develop non-invasive methods to detect latent infection on individual fruit? Can develop more effective non-fungicide methods to minimise the risk of latent infection developing into visible fruit rots?

This Research Topic covers all aspects of research and development relevant to biology, epidemiology, and management of diseases caused by Monilinia spp., including but not limited to the following areas:
• Develop methods for quantification of inoculum in real time;
• Understand inoculum production to minimise inoculum pressure;
• Understand inoculum dispersal to estimate the risk of pathogen spread at local and regional scales;
• Elucidate fruit-age related host resistance;
• Develop and implement decision-based management systems;
• Understand and minimise fungicide resistance;
• Develop non-invasive detection/quantification of latent infections;
• Research alternative management strategies, such as biocontrol and physical methods;
• Manipulating post-harvest handling and storage conditions to minimise latent infections developing into visible rots.

Keywords: Monilinia, brown rot, blossom wilt, wood canker, post-harvest rot, latent infection, detection, infection, biology, epidemiology, management, post-harvest

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.