Field studies of anthracnose symptoms and pathogen infection in different phases of the persimmon growing season

Abstract

Brazil is currently the world's sixth largest producer of persimmon (Diospyros kaki), with a total yield of 156,935 tonnes in 2018, cultivated in an area of 8148 ha and an average of 22.4 t/ha (Food & Agriculture Organization, 2020). The Brazilian persimmon production is concentrated in the southern and south-eastern regions, with approximately 80% of the cultivated area concentrated in the states of São Paulo (SP), Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Paraná (PR) (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2020).The cultivars grown in these regions vary depending on the weather and market; for example, in the south-east, cultivars Rama Forte, Fuyu, Guiombo and Taubaté are the most planted, whereas Fuyu and Kyoto are more frequently grown in the south (Aguiar et al., 2014).Persimmons were grown as low-maintenance plants in the south of Brazil, with high productivity and demanding few cultural practices and phytosanitary treatments (Danielli et al., 2002). However, since 2006, mainly in the state of Paraná, growers and extension personnel began to report an increase in the incidence of anthracnose in