First report of Cladosporium infection of mango inflorescence in the mid-country of Sri Lanka.
Sinniah G. D., Adikaram N. K. B., Abayasekara C. L.
Author Affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka.
Tropical Agriculturist 160 : 139-148
Abstract : Inflorescences with moderate to abundant green-gray mycelial growth were observed in several mango cultivars during 2008 and 2012 in Peradeniya-Kandy area. Fungal growth was first observed when inflorescences were in full bloom and heavy fungal colonization could be seen at the time of fruit set. The infected flowers, pedicels and small fruits became completely covered with the fungal mycelium, turned brown and dropped as the disease progressed. The fungus was isolated from diseased inflorescences and identified as Cladosporium sp. by reproductive and colony morphology. Original disease symptoms were reproduced after artificial inoculation and the same fungus was re-isolated from inoculated inflorescences suggesting that Cladosporium tenuissimum may be the causal organism.