Studies were undertaken to find out the effect of inoculum load of post harvest pathogen (Penicillium islandicum) on disease initiation, threshold point and population build up of blue mould rot in Indian gooseberry. Inoculations were made on the fruits of Indian gooseberry at five concentrations (10, 50, 100, 200 and 500 spores/ml.). The disease initiation commenced after 54 hrs. of inoculation with inoculum load of 500 spores/ml followed by 200 spores/ml where the initiation of disease was observed after 72 hrs. At lower spore load (10 spores/ml), there was no disease initiation even after 108 hrs of inoculation. Minimum number of spores required to initiate infection after 102 hrs was 50 spores/ml which can be considered as the threshold point. Maximum population build up (2 x 106 and 2 x 108 ) of the pathogen occurred at 500 spores/ml after 5 and 10 days of inoculation, respectively. | Effect of inoculum load on disease initiation, threshold point and population build up of post harvest pathogen (Penicillium islandicum Sopp.) of Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Goerth)
