Each isolate is capable of producing the two different lesion types. The factors involved in influencing a single isolate to produce these different lesion types are not known. The petioles of papayas support abundant development of C. gloeosporioides and its perfect stage, Glomerella cingulata. However, the petiole isolates, when used to inoculate fruits, do not cause typical anthracnose, chocolate spot, nor the gray-depressed lesions. The pathogen initially infects intact, non-wounded immature green fruit in the field.
Spores germinate and form appressoria on the fruit surface.
The fungus, using its appressorium, enzymatically penetrates the cuticle and then remains as sub-cuticular hyphae until the post climacteric stage of fruit growth is attained. At this point, for reasons that are not understood, the fungus resumes growth and causes the characteristic symptoms. Thus, papaya anthracnose has a latent stage in its development that is similar to many other anthracnose diseases of tropical fruits. Spores are only released from acervuli when there is an abundance of moisture. Splashing from rain is a common means of spread.