Population fluctuation of Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. in mango.
González E., Umaña G., Arauz L. F.
Author Affiliation: Laboratorio de Tecnología Poscosecha, Centro de Investigaciones Agronómicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Agronomía Costarricense 23 : 21-29
Abstract : The fluctuation of the spore population of Botryodiplodia theobromae was determined over a flowering and production cycle in 2 contiguous half-hectare mango plots in Costa Rica, which had been pruned on the previous year. In one of the plots, prunings were left on the ground. Prunings were eliminated from the other plot. Air-and rain-borne spores were captured. Endophytic colonization of mango panicles and pedicels by B. theobromae was also studied, by means of isolation from inflorescence peduncles and fruit pedicels. Airborne spore counts were similar in both plots. Interplot interference due to the wind during the experiment is discussed as a possible cause of this result. The population of rainborne spores was larger in the plot where the prunings were removed. Spore capture was greater in periods of rain or high humidity, at the beginning and at the end of the dry season. Endophytic colonization was found only in the plot were prunings were removed.