Butt & Crown Mold/Rot
Butt rot caused by the fungus Pathogen Chalara paradoxa under phylum Ascomycota. Butt & crown mold/rot is a fungal disease which symptoms are seen only on crowns, slips or suckers before or immediately after planting.
The fungus commonly infects plants through fresh wounds occurring where the planting material has been detached the parent plant and destroys the soft tissue at the base of the stem.
Image Source: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pp-Joy/publication/306034853_Chapter_26_Diseases_of_Pineapple_Ananas_comosus_and_their_Management_pp_493-510/links/57ac1f5208ae42ba52af4441/Chapter-26-Diseases-of-Pineapple-Ananas-comosus-and-their-Management-pp-493-510.pdf
What are the symptoms
A grey to black rot of the soft butt tissue develops, leaving stringy fibers and a cavity at the base of the stem. If affected material is planted, partial decay of the butt severely reduces plant growth.
This develops into a cavity at the base of the stems leaving only fibres.
Impact to the crop
When butt rots are severe, plants fail to establish properly, remain stunted and the older leaves die, but the young leaves remain firmly attached. Infected plants can be easily broken off at ground level.
How to control
√ Do not leave a portion of fruit attached to the crown when picking.
√ Treat material to be planted with a recommended fungicide immediately after removal (without drying).
√ Store planting material on top of plant rows in a single layer with butts exposed to the sun, or laid them on the ground in a similar manner.
√ Losses are reduced greatly by curing the planting material base.
√ If prolonged wet weather occurs, spray upturned butts or dip with a recommended fungicide within five hours of harvesting. Improve soil drainage and avoid planting during wet weather.
Source: Disease of Pineapple, "Pathogen, Symptoms, Infection, Spread and Management. Retrieved from: http://www.kau.in/sites/default/files/documents/diseases_of_pineapple.pdf
Vikaspedia, " Pineapple, Disease and Symptoms". Retrieved from: https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/integrated-pest-managment/ipm-for-fruit-crops/ipm-strategies-for-pineapple/pineapple-diseases-and-symptoms
