Rhizopus rot occurs occasionally on pears that have been injured or are over-ripe.
A dense growth of the coarse gray fungus often covers the rotted areas. The presence of black and white mature and immature fruiting bodies gives the gray fungus a salt and pepper appearance, which helps to distinguish this rot from those caused by the blue and gray mold organisms. Infections develop from spores or by contact, the latter method causing most of the loss once the rot has become established in a box of fruits. 1100 N. Western Ave.