Isolation and Characterization of Mango Shoot Dieback Pathogen

Nemera Roge Garuma
2019 Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences  
Mango, Mangifera indica, is an economically important tropical fruit, which is produced in many countries around the world, and this plant is affected by more than 140 different plant pathogens during its life cycle. The study was conducted to isolate and characterize causal pathogen (S) of mango shoot dieback. Samples were taken from top, middle and bottom of diseased mango canopy. The samples were cultured using PDA. Two fungal pathogen species: Colletotrichum spp. and Pestalotiopsis spp.
more » ... isolated. The isolates were characterized based on their colony growth (cm), colony color, colony shape, and colony growth orientation after their further purification. The mean length of the diameter of mycelia growth for the three representatives of all isolates, i.e. top, middle and bottom showed the isolates from middle of the crown of the mango tree exhibited relatively highest mean length (5.88 cm) diameter whereas the mean length of the diameter for the isolates from top and bottom were 4.63 cm and 5.63 cm respectively. The isolates from top showed the least mean diameter length (4.63 cm). The diameter length of isolated from top was significant to the isolates from middle and bottom. The color of colony at front side of isolates from which Colletotrichum spp. was identified showed whitish color whereas the same isolates had blackish and yellowish color at their reverse side. Pastalotiopsis spp. showed whitish and yellowish colors at their front and reverse sides respectively. Circular and irregular colony shape, and spreading and upward colony growth habit (orientation) was observed on both identified fungal pathogens. The overall results showed that mango shoot dieback can be caused by more than two pathogens with different morphological characteristics.
doi:10.15580/gjas.2019.1.012119024 fatcat:jz7wnrzd7rcaddkfqhc2jinfa4