Researching Hull Rot in Almonds

Researching Hull Rot in Almonds

Patrick Cavanaugh
Patrick Cavanaugh
A fungi called Aspergillus Niger that causes hull rot in almonds is being studied. Looking deeper in the causes of hull rot and how to prevent it is Muhammad Yaghmour, a UC cooperative extension area, orchard system adviser in Kern County.

“So the problem is in the past few years we have been seeing Aspergillus Niger causing hull rot symptoms on our trees. Some of the growers are reporting this as being more and more of problem,” said Yaghmour. “So what I'm trying to figure out at this point is studying the biology and epidemiology of the disease.”

Yaghmour is looking deeper into the biology of the disease. “We have done some inoculation studies and pathogenicity tests, as well as we are looking at the spore dynamics inside the orchard. So once we understand all of the biology of the disease, then we start looking at measures to control this disease,” he said.

Hull rot symptoms exhibits spores between the hull and the nut, which will cause hole rot and it will damage the nut.

“That's why we are also monitoring the yields in those orchards. We are looking at what is the most susceptible stage of the fruit when the spores are at the highest population,” said Yaghmour. “Once I understand, let's say, because the spores reside in the soil, you have more spore load at the end of the season because you have much dust. For example, one of the measures probably will be to reduce dust, because this fungus resides in the soil,” he noted.

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