FIRST REPORT OF CLADOSPORIUM INFECTION OF MANGO INFLORESCENCE IN IRAN

Abstract

During 2013, mango (Mangifera indica) producers of the most important growing area of Iran (Hormozgan province), reported extensive damages to panicles of mango trees of cv. Lengra, consisting of necrosis of flowers and pedicels. A fungus was isolated from affected panicles and its morphological traits were determined on colonies grown on Synthetic Nutrient Agar (SNA) medium as described by Bensch et al. (2012). Conidia 3-6×5.5-20 μm in size were fusiform with visible scars extensions. A portion of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene was amplified (Bensch et al., 2012) and sequenced (GenBank accession No. KT247610). A BLAST search showed 99% similarity with GenBank sequences belonging to Cladopsorium tenuissimum. Four healthy inflorescences were selected on a mango tree and, after disinfection by spraying 1% sodium hypochlorite and thoroughly washing with sterile distilled water, were sprayed with a spore suspension. Inoculum was prepared by rinsing a 7-day-old culture on PDA with sterile water and adjusted to 106 spores/ml. The inoculated inflorescences were kept covered with thin polythene bags for two days. Four control panicles on the same experimental tree were similarly disinfected and kept covered with thin polythene bags, after spraying with sterile distilled water. Symptoms resembling those observed in the field appeared on inoculated panicles from which the pathogen was re-isolated. Control treatments developed no symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. tenuissimum causing inflorescence infection on magno in Iran.