Phomopsis mango rot

The causal agent of this disease is the ascomycete fungus Phomopsis mangiferae, which belongs to the imperfect fungi group. This pathogen causes deep tissue damage to the plant, including branches, leaves, and, most critically, the mango fruits, leading to premature fruit drop and decay during storage.

This pathogen is highly specialized, primarily affecting crops within the Anacardiaceae family, with a strong preference for mango (Mangifera indica). In regions with intensive mango cultivation, the disease can spread throughout commercial orchards if strict quarantine measures are not followed.

Symptoms appear as dark, sunken lesions on the fruit surface, which expand over time and lead to tissue necrosis. On the branches, the disease often manifests as cankers and bark dieback, causing individual parts of the tree canopy to wither. Small, black fungal fruiting bodies are often visible on the affected areas.

The development of Phomopsis mangiferae is favored by high humidity and warm temperatures, typical of tropical and subtropical climates. The fungal spores are easily disseminated by wind, rain splashes, and insects, and can persist in plant debris, serving as a primary source of inoculum for the next season.

The economic damage caused by this disease is significant, resulting in loss of fruit marketability and rapid spoilage during transport and retail. To prevent outbreaks, integrated protection measures are required:

• regular sanitary pruning of affected branches;
• removal and destruction of mummified fruits;
• application of copper-based fungicides during the growing season;
• maintaining good canopy ventilation to reduce localized humidity.