Effect of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc. on mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Ataulfo fruit fall in Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico.
Benítez-Camilo F. A., Huerta-Palacios G., Holguín-Meléndez F., Toledo-Arreola J.
Author Affiliation: Depto. de Biotecnología Ambiental, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), km 2.5 Carr. Antiguo Aeropuerto, Tapachula, Chiapas, C.P. 30700, Mexico.
Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología 21 : 223-227
Abstract : C. gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata] was isolated from dark brown lesions in flowers and rachis of mango cv. Ataulfo during flowering in November 2001 and January 2002. To verify pathogenicity of the fungus, inflorescences were inoculated under field conditions in Chiapas, Mexico. Since it is virtually impossible to find disease-free panicles, an inoculum gradient was made to spray spores at concentrations of 1×107, 1×108 and 1×109/ml. The control was sprayed with water and Tween 80. Four adjacent panicles at the same phenological stage in 4 cardinal points were inoculated. Inoculated panicles developed small dark brown spots, coalesced and caused flowers to fall. Floral area damage at 12 days after inoculation with 1×107, 1×108 and 1×109 conidiospores/ml was 77.5, 83.5 and 98.2% for treatments in November, and 62.6, 65.5, and 69.4% for treatments in January. The control had 41.2% of the floral area damaged in November and 37.7% in January. There were significant differences among treatments and the control and between seasons. These results demonstrate that C. gloeosporioides attacks panicles, inducing flower fall out and small fruits.