First report of Neofusicoccum mangiferae causing rachis necrosis and inflorescence blight of mango (Mangifera indica) in Puerto Rico.
Serrato-Diaz L. M., Rivera-Vargas L. I., French-Monar R. D.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Amarillo, Texas, USA.
Plant Disease 98 : 570-571
Abstract : Inflorescence blight is a major disease in mango production. During a disease survey of mango in Puerto Rico conducted from February to April in 2009, approximately 20% of the inflorescences were affected with inflorescence blight showing rachis and flower necrosis. Symptoms were observed in 70% of samples at the Mango Germplasm Collection of the University of Puerto Rico's Experiment Station in Juana Diaz. Based on morphological characteristics, molecular investigations (sequence analyses of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region and ?-tubulin and translation elongation factor 1-? genes) and pathogenicity tests, the causal agent was identified as N. mangiferae. This is thought to be the first report of N. mangiferae causing rachis necrosis and inflorescence blight on mango in Puerto Rico.