Abstract

Avocado fruit is highly valued for its nutritional benefits and industrial uses. Production of avocado contributes to poverty alleviation, food security, and economic growth in producing countries. However, production is hindered by fungal diseases such as anthracnose, scab and cercospora spot. This study assessed the prevalence of the aforementioned fungal diseases in various fruit markets in Embu County. A cross-sectional survey was done involving 120 fruit vendors across six markets. Avocado fruits were randomly selected and examined for the presence of anthracnose, scab and cercospora spot diseases. Symptomatic fruits were taken to the laboratory for further analysis. The Hass avocado was the most common variety, found in 39% of the sampled stores, followed by local varieties (24%), Fuerte (21%), and Puebla (4%). Most vendors (42%) used hooks to harvest avocados, while 39% picked the fruits by hand. For packaging, 54% used sacks, 21% used buckets, and 13% used crates. Fifty-four percent of vendors used synthetic fungicides for disease management, while others employed various cultural practices. Disease prevalence varied significantly (P < 0.05) across the markets. Kianjokoma market had the highest prevalence of anthracnose (35.0%), while Mutunduri had the lowest (21.3%). Siakago market recorded the highest prevalence of scab (36.3%), with Mutunduri again having the lowest (20.7%). Cercospora spot was most prevalent in Kianjokoma (35.0%). The study highlights widespread avocado fruit diseases, exacerbated by harvesting and post-harvest handling practices. Training farmers on post-harvest disease management could significantly reduce associated losses.

Key words: Anthracnose, Avocado, Cultural practices, Post-harvest, Prevalence, Scab