Spongy tissue development in Alphonso mango: association with Staphylococcus xylosus

Abstract

A Gram-positive and catalase positive Staphylococcus strain was found to be associated with spongy tissue defect of Alphonso mango. The organism was identified to species level by physiological, morphological and biochemical characterization and fatty acid profile. The strain was identified as Staphylococcus xylosus (IMTECH, India, Accession No. MTCC 7441). The optimal growth of the organism was observed in the pH range of 5.0–9.0 and temperature range of 10–45°C. It was mannitol and arabinose-positive and able to produce acid from various sugars. The organism was able to grow in a medium containing 2–10% NaCl. It was further identified to species level by genomic sequencing of 1,387 base pairs of DNA (Gene Bank accession No. EU019195). Based on nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis, the microbe was found to be S. xylosus. The survey of Alphonso mango trees with a known history of producing spongy fruits showed that some of the twigs, leaves and flowers were coated with a honeydew-like sticky substance and mango hopper insects were observed over the inflorescence. The source of contamination of spongy fruits by S. xylosus was in the sticky mass. Gram staining, the catalase test and morphological features of the culture isolated from the sticky mass exhibited characteristics identical to the Staphylococcus strain isolated from the spongy pulp. Pathogenicity tests on different varieties of mangoes, apples and guavas indicated that the disease was experimentally transmitted from infected to healthy fruits. This observation suggested that this organism develops spongy symptoms in the fruits post-harvest and lacks specificity. In inoculated fruits, catalase and peroxidase enzymes were expressed as in naturally infected fruits. This report shows that the infection by S. xylosus could be a major initiating factor for spongy tissue development in Alphonso mangoes.