Sour rot of carrot caused by Geotrichum candidum in Japan

In September 2002, a severe sour rot was found on roots of postharvest carrots (Daucus carota L. var. sativus Hoffm) in Hokkaido Prefecture. The causal fungus was isolated from rotten carrots and identified as Geotrichum candidum Link. based on its morphology, growth characteristics, assimilation tests, banding pattern using species-specific primers, and sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA. The fungal isolates caused rot symptoms on inoculated carrot roots similar to those observed in the original samples. This is the first report of sour rot on carrot in Japan.