| Summary: | High-value trade and favorable climate have encouraged pomegranate cultivation and
processing in Italy, where Akko and Wonderful are the most widespread cultivars. In this
agro-industrial chain, fungal pathogens are chiefly responsible for product losses. Most of the
infections happen in the field during blooming, remaining latent till storage and sale;
important losses can be caused also by pathogens getting entrance during harvest and
postharvest due to wounds created by “wound” fungi, pests, and abiotic damages. Being a
minor crop, conventional and alternative fungicides are scarce, making control of fungal
pathogens very difficult. To reduce disease incidence, description of mold symptoms and
characterization of fungal etiological agents represent a key-step. Disease incidence of
fungal species from symptomatic fruit was assessed according to morphological and
molecular features. Main fungal diseases were gray mold, blue mold, black heart, black spot,
anthracnose, and dry rot. Results showed latent pathogens as the main cause of rots, being
the most abundant Alternaria alternata, Coniella granati, and Botrytis cinerea. Furthermore,
among wound pathogens different species within Penicillium and Talaromyces genera were
recorded. Other genera involved in minor postharvest diseases were Aspergillus,
Colletotrichum, and Cytospora. To develop effective control strategies, knowledge of
pomegranate fungal pathogens is needed facilitating decision systems to play a leading role.
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