Mango powdery mildew is a sporadic but very severe disease of mango leaves, panicles, and young fruits; up to 90 percent crop loss can occur due to its effect on fruit set and development.
Powdery mildew is primarily a disease of flowers, young shoots, and young fruits. The disease may cause foliar, inflorescence or fruit infection. The characteristic symptom of the powdery mildew disease is the white superficial powdery growth of the fungus on these parts having millions of conidia which are borne in chains on conidiophores, which later turns in to grey color.
Mildew pathogen attacks flowers resulting in their shedding. The sepals are relatively more susceptible than the petals. From a distance, the infected parts of the mango tree have a grayish haze resulting from the masses of conidia and fungal growth on the infected surface.
Young leaves are mostly infected on the underside, especially along the veins, but more susceptible varieties are also infected on the upper surface. Older leaves are more resistant to infection. Grayish, necrotic lesions or large, irregularly shaped spots may form on leaves.
Powdery mildew of mango
