Etiology of mango fruit blackening causedby sooty blotch fungal complex in Eastern India

New kind of superficial blackening caused by sooty blotch fungi was first noticed on mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruits in Odisha, Eastern India during late summers of 2015 and 2016. It emerged as a new threat to quality mango production since it affects the market value of the fruits drastically and its export potential. Hundred mango fruits from orchards in two locations were arbitrarily sampled and colonies of each mycelial type were counted on each mango fruits which revealed ramose type of mycelial colonies was more predominant. Representative colonies were isolated; cultures were purified and proved for its pathogenicity. Genetic identity was assigned through ITS-rDNA sequence analysis which revealed the association of four fungal genera such as Pseudocercospora sp., Pallidocercospora sp., Zasmidium sp. and Passalora sp. with sooty blotch of mango. Scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the damage of waxy layer of fruits which led to shriveling of infected fruits in storage which highlights the significance of producing mangoes free from sooty blotch disease. Further investigations are required, particularly related to host-pathogen-weather interaction and spatiotemporal distribution across the major mango growing regions of India. This study established the association of sooty blotch fungal complex on mango for the first time in India.