🌿 Introduction
If you’re growing dragon fruit and seeing your precious fruits turn brown, soft, or start leaking on the vine—you’re likely dealing with Fruit Rot. It’s one of the most frustrating problems because it shows up just when you think you’ve won the season.
At Kurela Agro Farms, we’ve battled fruit rot during monsoon, high humidity, and dense crop phases. We’ve tried everything—from cow-based solutions to strategic chemical sprays. And now, we’re sharing what’s worked best for us and the farmers we support.
This is not theory. This is real-world experience with a clear goal: to help you reduce loss, protect yield, and grow with confidence.
🔍 What is Fruit Rot in Dragon Fruit?
Fruit rot is a fungal disease caused by pathogens like Colletotrichum, Rhizopus, or Botryodiplodia. These fungi thrive in warm, moist conditions—especially when fruits are exposed to physical damage, rain, or poor airflow.
Soft, water-soaked patches on fruit
Dark spots that quickly expand
Mold growth (white, grey, or black)
Premature fruit drop
Leaking or bursting fruit
Foul odor in advanced stages
⚠️ Why It’s a Serious Problem
Affects market-quality fruit and reduces income
Can spread across vines in just 2–3 days
Higher in shaded or low-ventilation setups
Weakens the plant for future flowering cycles
🛡️ Best Practices for Prevention & Early Control
Here’s what we follow strictly on our farm. These steps reduce 80% of the problem before it even starts.
✅ Cultural & Physical Practices
Use shade nets that allow light and reduce direct rainfall
Train fruiting branches upward — avoid contact with soil or each other
Avoid overhead irrigation during flowering and fruiting
Prune overlapping stems to improve airflow
Harvest fruits a few days early during high humidity or rain
✅ Support Structures & Field Hygiene
Install fruit slings or nets to prevent bruising
Build rain shelters or use polythene strips above fruiting areas
Ensure proper slope and drainage around each plant base
Remove infected fruit immediately—don’t compost nearby
Sanitize shears and knives after each cut
Avoid working in wet fields—spores spread faster through water splash
Available Solutions
🧪 Chemical Control Options
🧴 1. Mancozeb + Carbendazim (SAAF)
Dosage: 1.5g each per litre or 3g SAAF
Interval: Every 10 days
Use: As first line of defense when rot is visible
💧 2. Copper Oxychloride (COC)
Dosage: 2g per litre
Interval: Every 7–10 days
Use: For surface drying and fungal control post rain
🌿 3. Azoxystrobin (Amistar Top) or Trifloxystrobin
Dosage: 1ml per litre
Interval: Every 12–15 days
Use: Systemic protection with curative action
🔁 Always rotate fungicides and avoid repeating the same chemical for more than 2 cycles.
🌱 Organic Control Options
(Use when aiming for chemical-free or ZBNF farming)
🍃 1. Neem Oil + Soap Emulsion
Dosage: 3–5 ml neem oil + 1 ml liquid soap per litre
When: Use early morning or evening
Interval: Every 7 days during monsoon or humid conditions
Benefit: Acts as antifungal and natural insect deterrent
🧄 2. Garlic + Clove Fermented Spray
Crush 10 garlic pods + 3 cloves
Mix with 10g jaggery in 1L water
Ferment 2 days, dilute 1:10, then spray
Interval: Every 10–12 days
Helps suppress fungal spore germination
🐄 3. Jeevamrut + Buttermilk + Turmeric Mix
2L Jeevamrut + 1L buttermilk + 10g turmeric in 10L water
Spray thoroughly on stems and fruits
Interval: Every 7–10 days
Boosts immunity, discourages fungal colonization
🌾 4. Trichoderma or Pseudomonas Foliar Spray
Dosage: 5g/L of water
When: Ideal after rains
Interval: Every 15 days
Controls soil-borne and surface fungi
| Week | Spray A | Spray B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neem Oil + Soap | — |
| 2 | Jeevamrut + Buttermilk Mix | Trichoderma foliar spray |
| 3 | Garlic + Clove Fermented Spray | Neem Oil (again) |
| 4 | Copper-based (Organic Grade) | — |
✅ Spray in early morning or post-sunset. Rotate every 7 days for 4–5 weeks during high-risk period.
🔁 Kurela Agro Farms’ Trusted Control Plan
Here’s the spray routine we use on our own 8+ acre dragon fruit block:
| Week | Application |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Neem Oil Spray + COC after rain |
| Week 2 | Jeevamrut + Buttermilk Mix + Trichoderma |
| Week 3 | Mancozeb + Carbendazim Combo |
| Week 4 | Garlic + Clove Fermented Spray |
✅ Apply foliar calcium, silicon, and boron every 15 days for stronger skin and less cracking
🌟 Final Advice: Stay One Step Ahead Don’t wait for rot to show before acting. If the weather forecast shows multiple cloudy days or humidity >80%, start your prevention cycle. Once rot starts, it spreads within 48 hours if not managed. Prevention is always cheaper than a cure.
📢 From One Farmer to Another
At Kurela Agro Farms, we grow plants, share knowledge, and stand by every farmer who chooses to do it right. If this guide helped you, please refer it to your farmer groups, or connect with us for farm setup, plant orders, or guidance.
📞 +91 8866667502 / 8866667503
🌐 www.kurelaagrofarms.com
“Your success is our reputation. Let’s grow something great — together.”
