Evaluation of fungicides for postharvest management of sour rot of sweetpotato, 2025 (Clayton, North Carolina)

Sour rot of sweetpotato, a postharvest disease, is caused by the pathogenic fungus Geotrichum candidum. The disease occurs exclusively in wounds on sweetpotato roots and is characterized by dark brown lesions. In advanced stages, the lesions lead to tissue collapse, and white areas of pathogen sporulation become evident. This report evaluates the effectiveness of several fungicides for managing sour rot under postharvest conditions. The trial was conducted in 2025. The objective of this study was to generate initial information to support disease management by assessing the performance of different fungicides, representing the first assay conducted for this disease.