First report of gray leaf spot of mango (Mangifera indica) caused by Pestalotiopsis mangiferae in Taiwan.
Ko Y., Yao K. S., Chen C. Y., Lin C. H.
Author Affiliation: Department of Post Modern Agriculture, Mingdao University, Changhua, Taiwan.
Plant Disease 91 :1684
Abstract : Since 2001, a leaf spot disease was found in mango orchards of Taiwan. Now the disease was observed throughout Taiwan in moderate to severe form, thus affecting the general health of mango trees and orchards. Initial symptoms were small, yellow-to-brown spots on leaves. Later, the irregularly shaped spots (from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in diameter) turned white to grey and coalesced to form larger grey patches. Lesions had slightly raised dark margins. On mature lesions, numerous black acervuli, measuring 290-328 µm in diameter, developed on the grey necrotic areas. Single conidial isolates of the fungus were identified morphologically as Pestalotiopsis mangiferae and were consistently isolated from the diseased mango leaves on acidified PDA medium. Upon conducting pathogenicity tests, the symptoms described above were observed on all inoculated leaves, while uninoculated leaves remained completely free from symptoms. Reisolation from the inoculated leaves consistently yielded P. mangiferae. This is thought to be the first report of gray leaf spot disease affecting mango in Taiwan.