The effect of climatic factors on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causal agent of mango anthracnose, in the Philippines.
Dodd J. C., Estrada A. B., Matcham J., Jeffries P., Jeger M. J.
Author Affiliation: Biological Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Plant Pathology 40 : 568-575
Abstract : The epidemiology of C. gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata], was studied over 2 growing seasons in the Philippines. Infection studies with leaves and fruit incubated at different temp. and RH led to the derivation of a logistic regression model of the percentage of conidia forming appressoria. This model was compared with a similarly derived model from work in Australia; it appeared that the Philippine isolates of G. cingulata were adapted to the higher mean temp. of the Philippines. Conidia were observed to germinate and form appressoria between 95 and 100% RH, even though free surface moisture was only visible at 100% RH. This model was used retrospectively to estimate infection levels in 2 field trials which had been established to compare pre- and post-harvest practices in the control of the disease. It is suggested that using this information to plan applications of a curative fungicide might have resulted in fewer applications in the trials compared with the standard protective spray programme employed.