Monday, December 21, 2015

Black spot of mangoes

Black spot is the most important disease of mangoes in regions where this fruit is grown commercially.

Anthracnose or black spot caused by the fungus colletotrichum gloeosporiodes is usually appears in the fruit only as it ripens.

It develops in all tender parts of the plant and is especially severe on the flower and flower stems. The spots first appear as a very small brown area that enlarge rapidly and become black.

Often the entire fruit surface is covered by the coalesing of the spots. The affecting areas usually crack and sink slightly.

Mangoes are also susceptible to black spot disease, the agent of which is Alternaria alternate.

Control may rely on benomyl, prochloraz or a variety of other fungicides. Hot water dips with or without fungicides for 2-5 minutes have been quite affective in control of anthracnose and stem end rots in mangoes.
Black spot of mangoes