Management of mango malformation disease based on a novel strategy of timing of fungicide applications combined with sanitation

Abstract

Mango malformation disease (MMD) caused by Fusarium mangiferae severely affects the crop and is widely distributed in almost all mango-growing regions worldwide. Since malformed inflorescences do not bear fruit, MMD is a major constraint to crop production in affected areas. No effective management methods have been reported to date. The airborne nature of dissemination and infection of buds suggest that protection of buds from infection when inoculum prevails may be a plausible method for disease control from season to season. Various fungicides were assessed for their ability to control the pathogen under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. Prochloraz was the most effective fungicide in inhibiting F. mangiferae in vitro with a 0.01 μg mL−1 concentration required for 50% fungal growth inhibition. In greenhouse trials, protective and curative activity exceeding 90% was achieved when the fungicide was applied up to 14 days prior or post inoculation. Field experiments conducted over a number of seasons in different regions in Israel indicate that combined sanitation with timely applications of prochloraz resulted in a significant reduction in MMD disease severity and incidence, as well as a significant increase in yield in treated plots. It is assumed that long-term treatment by removal of infected panicles (the main source of inoculum) combined with timely sprays will result in disease reduction annually achieving negligible levels of malformation in treated orchards, in time.