Characterization of Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing post-harvest stem-end rot disease of mango and its management using synthetic fungicides

The causal agent of post-harvest stem end rot disease of mango, the loss caused by the disease and the effect of fungicides against the disease, were investigated. The causal agent was characterised using its internal transcribed spacer region and the translation elongation factor gene. Nine fungicides were applied preharvest, followed by post-harvest treatment with prochloraz or fludioxonil at ambient temperature and 53 °C, and percentage fruit loss was determined after storage. The disease caused between 6.7 and 38.7% loss of stored mango fruits in Ghana. Lasiodiplodia theobromae, was confirmed the causal agent of the disease. Treating mango fruits with prochloraz or fludioxonil at 53 °C resulted in between 0 to 6.7% loss of fruits, irrespective of preharvest treatment. It is recommended that preharvest application of fungicides, followed by hot prochloraz or fludioxonil dip after harvest, is adopted for the control of the stem end rot disease of mango caused by L. theobromae.