Exudation and onset of rot during squash storage ( Cucurbita pepo cv. ‘Delica’)

Abstract Fruits of squash ( Cucurbita pepo) cv, ‘Delica' were challenged by surface cuts at 2‐weekly intervals to investigate the relationship between exudation and rotting. Those fruits that stopped exuding within 2 months after harvest were more susceptible to fungal invasion than fruits that retained the ability to exude. However, the statistical relationship linking exudation and fungal resistance did not apply to individual fruits, some of which exuded whilst rotting.