17 R. Hafeez N. Akhtar A. Shoaib U. Bashir M. S. Haider Z. A. Awan Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20152015/12/01 25 6 1737-1740 1018-7081 NA <p>Post-harvest diseases of fruits are the major threat to fruit quality and cause heavy economic losses. During a survey of the local fruit market in Lahore in the summer of 2014, several samples of rotted loquat fruits were collected to identify the causal organism.&nbsp;<em>Geotrichum candidum&nbsp;</em>(FCBP1335) was isolated, purified and identified initially on the basis of morphological characteristics. Further confirmation of identified fungus was carried out by sequencing the Amplified Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS4 region) from total genomic DNA of the isolated causal fungus. Re-isolation of same fungal pathogen from the artificially innoculated loquat fruits fulfilled the Koch&rsquo;s postulates. To our knowledge,&nbsp;<em>G. candidum&nbsp;</em>is reported for the first time, causing rotting in loquat fruit not only from Pakistan but also from the world. Present investigation will be very helpful for management of this post-harvest disease.</p> Loquat, sour rot, Geotrichum candidum, Pakistan Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2015-JAPS-233