Mango malformation

Mango malformation is a significant fungal disease that causes severe physiological and morphological changes in the mango tree. The primary pathogen responsible for this disorder is the fungus Fusarium mangiferae, which interferes with the plant’s normal development by disrupting hormonal pathways, leading to abnormal growth patterns.

The disease primarily affects Mangifera indica (common mango). It is considered one of the most economically damaging threats to mango production worldwide, as it can cause complete floral failure, resulting in significant yield losses for commercial orchards and small-scale growers alike.

Symptoms of the disease are divided into vegetative and floral malformation. Floral malformation involves the development of dense, thickened flower panicles that produce no fruit. Vegetative malformation is characterized by the formation of "witches' brooms," where stunted shoots produce a high density of small, brittle leaves, hindering the tree's vitality.

The spread of the pathogen is largely facilitated by the mango bud mite, Aceria mangiferae, which acts as a vector for the fungus. Environmental factors such as high relative humidity and specific temperature ranges during the flowering season significantly increase the susceptibility of the trees to infection by the fungal spores.

Management strategies focus on a combination of cultural and chemical controls. Key practices include:

• Pruning and destroying infected branches to reduce inoculum sources.
• Implementing strict orchard sanitation and using pathogen-free nursery stock.
• Applying specific acaricides to control the mite vector population.
• Utilizing systemic fungicides during critical developmental stages to inhibit fungal penetration and colonization.