Mango fruit anthracnose and the effects on mango yield and market values in Southwestern Nigeria.
Onyeani C. A., Osunlaja S. O., Owuru O. O., Sosanya O. S.
Author Affiliation: Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Asian Journal of Agricultural Research 6 : 171-179
Abstract : This study investigated the etiology of mango fruit anthracnose, its effect on yield and market values in humid Southern Nigeria. The result of the investigation revealed that 96 out of 231 fungal isolates recovered from symptomatic mango parts were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides based on their whitish orange colony, hyaline; single-celled and cylindrical appearance and pathogenicity test. In addition, 60% of mango trees surveyed were infected with anthracnose and over 34% of fruits produced on those trees were found severely infected. Trees treated with fungicide during fruiting retained mean fruit of 57.65 (38.41% above mean in control) while untreated trees retained least mean fruits of 18.35 (55.94% lower than mean in control). A significant reduction in the price of mango was found associated with anthracnose-infected fruits. From the result of the investigation, it was evident that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was responsible for anthracnose disease in mango and was prevalent in all the study areas. Furthermore, the result revealed that the disease was the cause of mango yield loss and of rendering marketable fruits worthless in Southwestern, Nigeria.