Diversity and Pathogenicity of Dominant Fungal Species Causing Postharvest Rot in Mangoes in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: To identify the main fungal species responsible for postharvest rot in mangoes in Côte d’Ivoire and to assess their relative pathogenicity. Methodology: Mango samples showing symptoms of rot were collected from four major production regions (Bagoué, Kabadougou, Poro, and Tchologo). Fungal isolates were obtained using PDA medium supplemented with chloramphenicol and were characterized morphologically, microscopically, and through molecular analysis of the ITS1-ITS2 region. The most frequently isolated fungal species were tested for pathogenicity on healthy mango fruits. Results: Seventeen fungal isolates were recovered, of which eight accounted for 88.27% of total occurrences. The most frequent were Lasiodiplodia theobromae (20.92%) and Aspergillus niger (17.86%). Molecular identification confirmed that the dominant species included L. theobromae, Rhizopus arrhizus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. tubingensis, A. uvarum, Penicillium citrinum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Pathogenicity tests revealed that L. theobromae and R. arrhizus caused the most severe decay, with over 90% rot observed within three days of inoculation. Conclusion: Effective management of postharvest mango losses in Côte d’Ivoire requires targeted control strategies against the dominant fungal pathogens, particularly L. theobromae and R. arrhizus. These findings may contribute to enhance the understanding of interactions between fungal species and mangoes, and highlight the need for proactive management to control post-harvest losses in Côte d’Ivoire.