FIRST REPORT OF FRUIT ANTHRACNOSE IN MANGO CAUSED BY COLLETOTRICHUM GLOEOSPORIOIDES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Mango Mangifera indica L. fruit rot caused by anthracnose is the most economically important postharvest disease limiting shelf life and export of fresh mango fruits in Nigeria. This study investigated the etiology disease incidence and disease severity of mango fruit anthracnose in Southwestern Nigeria. The result of the investigation revealed that 96 isolates out of 231 fungi isolates recovered from symptomatic mango fruits were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates based on their whitish orange colony septated hyphae and capsule-like appearance and pathogenicity test conducted. Other 14 fungi species encountered accounted for 135 isolates. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was more frequently encountered in all the study areas. One-way ANOVA with Duncan Multiple Range Test conducted revealed that Ogbomosho area had the highest disease incidence mean of 48 and severity mean of 37.87 while Ayetoro recorded the least disease incidence with mean incidence of 37.33 and severity mean of 30.93. From the result of the investigation it was evident that anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was prevalent in all the four study areas of Southwest Nigeria. Sixty percent of mango trees surveyed were found infected with anthracnose and over 34 of fruits produced on those trees were found severely infected.