Effects of cultural practices on the incidence of storage rots in Cucurbita spp

Pre- and post-harvest treatments were investigated for their effects on the incidence of storage rots in fruit of cultivars of Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata. Fruit artificially damaged by removing stalks at harvest was more prone to rot than undamaged fruit. Fungicides applied during fruit development reduced storage rots in some cultivars but the effects were not large. Development of storage rots was not affected either by curing of fruit (14 days at 22°C and RH >90%) to assist wound healing or by hot water treatment (5 or 10 min at 50°C) to eradicate infection. Increasing the length of time (after maturity) fruit remained attached to the vines before harvesting appeared to increase its susceptibility to storage rots.