Evaluation of Various Mango Varieties against the Infection Dynamics of Powdery Mildew (<i>Oidium mangiferae</i> Bert.)

Abstract

Mango ( Mangifera indica L: Anacardiaceae ) is regarded as the most liked fruit in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Powdery mildew of mango caused by Oidium mangiferae Bert. is one of the major plant pathological constraints in growing healthy mango orchards. The apparent symptoms of the disease occurred on young tissues of all parts of flowers, leaves and fruits. Severe blossom infection could result in complete damage to fruit; flower failed to open and drop off from the inflorescence. The inflorescence revealed a pattern of disease from tip to downward and showed itself by the emergence of wefts of white mycelium on the affected parts. Twenty-five mango varieties i.e. Langra, Dusehri, Ratole No.12, Fajri, Sindhri, Chaunsa Samar Bahisht, Anwar ratole, Neelam, Yakta, Tota Pari, Sensation, Saroli, Malda, Ghulab e Khas, Chaunsa Black, Chaunsa white, Anmol, Almas, Shan e Ali, Shan e Mustafa, Mahmood Khan, Armughan, Zafaran, Malda Late and Early Gold were evaluated through the observation of symptoms on young inflorescence to determine the disease incidence, disease severity index and average yield of fruit. The study was carried out in a randomized compete block design with twenty-five treatments and three replications. The mango varieties presented different performance in relation to powdery mildew incidence and could be categorized into eight groups. Maximum disease incidence was observed (33.33%, 26.66% and 26.66%, 26.66%) on Dusehri, Chaunsa Samar Bahisht, Malda and Ratole No.12 respectively and minimum disease incidence was (3.66% and 3.66%) noted on Almas and Sensation. These two varieties showed to be tolerant against the disease. It might be concluded that the presence or absence of symptoms caused by the powdery mildew had no such effect on the fruit yield of the mango cultivars.