The influence of temperature was studied (5, 15, 25 and 35 °C), wetness period (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) and inoculum concentration (10¹, 10², 10(4), 10(6) and 10(8) spores/ml) on the intensity of post-harvest rots in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits (cv. Santa Clara) caused by Fusarium verticillioides, Geotrichum candidum and Rhizopus stolonifer. Temperature significantly influenced (P=0,05) rot incidence. Higher incidence of lesions was observed when fruit were incubated at 25 °C. Disease development was not observed in fruit inoculated with F. verticillioides and incubated at 5 and 35 °C. The smallest incidences of G. candidum and R. stolonifer rots were verified at 35 °C. The incidence of R. stolonifer rot was very high at 5, 15 and 25 °C, varying between 97.5 and 100%. The presence of free water on the surface of tomato fruit was not necessary for the incidence of F. verticillioides, G. candidum and R. stolonifer rots. However, disease incidence levels increased with the increment in the wetness period, except for R. stolonifer that caused 100% disease incidence even in absence of free water. The incidence of tomato fruit rots increased with the increment of the inoculum concentration from 10¹ to 10(8) spores.ml-1. It reached 100% at 10(4) spores.ml-1 for F. verticillioides and R. stolonifer, and 10(8) spores.mL-1 for G. candidum.
