Abstract
During July, 1990 the fruits and branches of guava (Psidium guajam L.) plants growing in some orchards in suherhs of Faisalabad were found to be affected with anthracnose disease caused by Glocospothim psidii. Intensity of disease was more on the light red as compared to white surface fruits. The affected unripe fruits showed, all over the surface, pin head sized dark brown spots which on coalescing changed to large circular light brown sunken areas/lesions with slightly raised edges. The centres of the lesions were studded with ac-ervuli in almost concentric circles covering 1-3 cm diameter area. Similar symptoms were also observed on ripe fruits during the month of September. In India, the anthracnosc of guava has been reported throughout the year on ripe fruits but maximum damage is caused dur-ing the months of February-March and September-October, especially under moist conditions (Dasgupta and Mandal, 1989). When branches of the plants are affected, black necrotic areas extend downward causing die back of twigs (Maridaf, 198:1). Morphology of the fungus: Gloeosporiwn psidii produced its fruiting bodies, the ae-ervidi without setae in the centres of the spots. Conidiophores were hyaline, simple, long rather grouped. Conidia borne termi-nally, 1-celled, with round ends 9-21 x 2.5-4.0 i (Fig. 1). Although G. psidii has been reported in India (Pathak, 1980) as the cause of anthracnose of guava yet according to the available literature no significant record is available in Pakistan.
