Distribución espacio temporal y daño ocasionado por Pestalotia spp. en frutos de guayaba

To determine Pestalotia spp. spatial and temporal distribution and the level of physical and chemical damage on the guava fruit (Psidium guajava) at the Rio Suarez watershed, fruits with disease symptoms from 104 farms were evaluated on farms where fruit damage has increased economic losses. Spatial distribution was evaluated on 16 farms at the Velez municipality (Santander, Colombia) during four rainfall periods. Physical damage was established by a severity index(%) taking into account fruit maturity, production system, altitude, planning density and tree age. Potential chemical alterations in affected mature fruit were analyzed on total soluble solids (%), reduced sugars (%) and titrable acidity (% of citric acid). During the dry season (January and February) the pathogen was found on 102 of the 104 farms evaluated. The highest incidence (≥85%) was found at Puente Nacional, Jesus Maria y Guavata, and the lowest (36,7%) at Oiba and Guadalupe. During transition periods, dry/wet (July) and wet/dry (March) the higher incidences were recorded, 93,1 and 90,6%, respectively. Disease severity was higher in yellow-green and mature fruit, in the guava x coffee system, between 1.901 and 1.960 m.a.s.l., and in planting densities higher than 490 tress per hectare. No chemical alterations were found on fruit affected by Pestalotia spp.