This article has been adapted from content that was originally published on PlantwisePlus.
Overview
Having been cultivated for centuries, mango is an important crop throughout tropical regions globally. A wide range of fresh mango cultivars are now consumed worldwide and are available all year round, making it a valuable commodity. In 2020, the global export of mangoes, guavas and mangosteens rose to approximately 2.2 million tonnes.
With such high demand for mango, farmers around the world can’t afford to have these disorders threatening their yield.
Common mango diseases
Mango black spot (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Mangiferaeindicae)
On mango, symptoms are angular, black, and raised leaf spots, sometimes with a chlorotic halo. Leaf lesions dry and turn light brown or grey several months after infection. A number of commercial mango cultivars are very susceptible, causing serious losses particularly alongside favourable environmental conditions. The disease may cause trees to weaken through defoliation, eventually leading to lower yields.
How to manage mango black spot:
- Remove infected leaves and branches
- Biological control, such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CL3 bacteria, can help reduce its population size
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Anthracnose is a fungal disease that can be devastating to mango trees, especially in humid regions. It can be identified by dark, sunken lesions on leaves, flowers, and fruits. Warm, moist conditions are optimal for the spread of this fungus, especially during rainy season. Infected fruits often rot before ripening, making them unsellable.
How to manage anthracnose on mangoes:
- Grow resistant strains of mango
- Remove fallen leaves and infected parts of the plant
- Use microbial control, such as Bacillus subtilis
Powdery mildew (Oidium mangiferae)
Powdery mildew looks like white powder on mango leaves, flowers, and fruit. It thrives in dry conditions with high humidity during the early morning and evening. Severe infections cause premature flower and fruit drop. Young mango leaves may also become distorted, affecting overall tree health.
Hoe to control powdery mildew on mangoes:
- Improve ventilation within the orchard to reduce humidity levels
- Remove affected plant parts and ensure proper pruning to reduce disease spread
- Apply a natural substance such as Tea tree oil
Bacterial canker (Xanthomonas campestris)
Bacterial canker is characterized by dark, sunken lesions on mango trunks, branches, and sometimes fruits. These lesions may ooze a sticky, yellow bacterial exudate. Over time, the disease weakens the tree, leading to defoliation and fruit drop. Severe infections can cause branches to die back, significantly reducing tree productivity.
How to manage bacterial canker on mangoes:
- Prune and burn infected plant material to prevent further contamination
- Avoid overhead irrigation, as moisture facilitates bacterial spread
Red rust (Cephaleuros virescens)
Red rust is a fungal disease that appears as orange to reddish-brown velvety patches on mango leaves, twigs, and sometimes fruits. It weakens trees by reducing photosynthesis causing stunted growth.
How to manage red rust on mangoes:
- Prune and destroy infected plant material
- Ensure proper tree nutrition and moisture control to boost resistance
Mango malformation
Mango malformation disease (MMD) affects both vegetative and floral growth, leading to abnormal structures that hinder fruit production. It is often associated with mite infestations and fungal infections. Symptoms include compact, bushy shoots with shortened internodes and malformed flower panicles that fail to produce fruit.
How to manage mango malformation:
- Remove and destroy infected panicles before flowering
- Apply mite control measures to reduce disease transmission
- Use disease-free grafting material and resistant cultivars when possible
Sooty Mould
Sooty mould is a secondary fungal infection that grows on the honeydew secreted by pests like aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects. It forms a black, sooty layer on leaves, reducing photosynthesis by blocking sunlight. While it does not directly infect mango trees, it weakens them by limiting nutrient absorption.
How to prevent sooty mould on mangoes:
- Control sap-sucking pests with natural predators or neem-based sprays
- Wash affected leaves with mild soapy water to remove mould
- Improve air circulation in the orchard to reduce humidity
Mango scab (Elsinoë mangiferae)
Mango scab is a fungal disease that causes rough, cracked lesions on leaves, twigs, and fruits. Affected fruits develop corky scabs, making them unmarketable.
How to control the spread of mango scab:
- Remove and destroy infected plant parts
- Use resistant mango varieties where available
Common mango pests
Mango tree borer (Batocera rufomaculata)
Adult mango tree borers gnaw the bark of twigs or chew green growing tips. Female beetles lay eggs in damaged bark or exposed roots. Larvae feed inside main stems, large branches, or exposed roots, creating cavities that cause bark detachment. Severe infestations often lead to tree death and economic losses.
How to manage mango tree borer infestation:
- Prune and burn infested branches
- Apply biological control agents such as Beauveria bassiana
- Use pheromone traps to monitor adult beetle activity
Mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae)
The mango seed weevil causes damage by laying eggs in the mango fruit itself. Infected fruits can be identified by the hardened, amber-coloured secretion which often have tails at one end. When populations of this weevil are high, brown marks at the oviposition sites on mature fruits are very obvious.
How to control mango seed weevils:
- Collect and destroy infested fruits to reduce weevil populations
- Use neem-based sprays to deter oviposition
- Introduce parasitic wasps, such as Catolaccus grandis, as biological control agents
Mango leafhopper (Idioscopus nitidulus)
Leafhoppers suck phloem sap from the plant. This turns affected florets brown and they dry up. Eggs laid in the leaves and flower stems may also cause some damage. Major damage happens at the flowering stage causing yield losses.
How to prevent mango leafhopper damages:
- Apply neem-based insecticides during early infestations
- Use microbial control products, such as those containing Metarhizium anisopliae isolate IBCB 425
Mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae)
Mango mealybugs suck sap from mango leaves and shoots, weakening trees and reducing fruit production. Their honeydew secretion encourages sooty mould development, further hindering photosynthesis.
How to control mango mealybugs:
- Introduce natural predators like ladybird beetles
- Use neem oil sprays to deter infestations
- Apply sticky bands on tree trunks to prevent mealybug movement
Fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis)
Fruit flies lay eggs inside mangoes, leading to larval infestation and premature fruit drop. Infested fruits become soft, discoloured, and unmarketable.
How to manage fruit fly infestations on mango:
- Remove fallen and infested fruits to break the life cycle
- Apply biological control agents such as Diachasmimorpha longicaudata parasitoid wasps
How do I manage mango disorders?
- Firstly, use this Mango disorders photoguide to help you identify the problem.
- Once you have identified the problem you are dealing with, you can use the CABI BioProtection Portal search tool to determine if there are biocontrol or biopesticide products you can use in your country.
- You can also find management, prevention and control advice for mango pests and diseases in your region on the Plantwise Knowledge Bank. Simply search for a pest or crop and then filter the results by country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major diseases of mangoes?
Common mango diseases include anthracnose, powdery mildew, mango black spot, and bacterial canker.
What are the major pests of mangoes?
Key pests include mango seed weevils, mango tree borers, leafhoppers, and fruit flies.
