Abstract: According to Koch'postulates, the pathogenic fungus causing a destructive decay of stored
pomegranate fruitswas isolated and confirmed. After cloning the internal transcribed spacer ( ITS) region of
the isolate using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) technique, the gene sequence of ITS region of isolate were
determined. Using Blast System, the difference of the gene sequences between the isolate and the fungus in
EuropeanMolecular B iology Laboratory Genbank was compared. The result showed that the isolate fungus and
B otryosphaeria dothidea share more 99% homology sequence. Therefore, the isolated funguswas identified as
B otryosphaeria dothidea. The symp toms of B otryosphaeria dothidea causing fruit rot are same with other fungus
in other reports. This paper is the first report about B otryosphaeria dothidea causing pomegranate rot. In addi
tion, the disease cycle and the ep idemiology of B otryosphaeria dothidea were investigated in order to control
the decay of stored pomegranate fruits.

Key words: Pomegranate, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Storage, ITS - rDNA sequencing