ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Mitigating mango malformation: A study on physical modifications and chemical treatments
Zafar Iqbal1*, Naeem Akhtar1, Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar1, Sher Muhammad Shehzad1, Salman Ahmad1, Muhammad Asif1, Muhammad Yasin1, Muhammad Aslam Pervez2, Altaf Ahmad Dasti2 and Ahmad Saleem3
1University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
2Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, F. abad, Pakistan.
3Department of Botany, Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan, Pakistan.
3Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), Lahore, Pakistan.
Accepted 28 October, 2023
Abstract
Mango malformation is a serious disease causing severe economic losses every year. The aim of the present study was to assess the current disease position and devise an integrated strategy to control this malady in commercial orchards. The assessment of malformation was done at forty locations in eight mango growing districts of Pakistan. Malformation showed 100% prevalence in the surveyed orchards. Jhang was the most affected district with 60.13% severity while Khanewal was least affected with 13.80% severity. All the common mango cultivars were found more or less disposed to the disease. Effect of clipping of malformed branches at 15, 30 and 45 cm distance, respectively behind the panicles alone or combined with benomyl 50 WP spray at 2.0 gm L-1 water in the respective treatments was evaluated. The treatment with clipping at 45 cm distance followed by spray of benomyl showed the best results giving 70.37% decrease over previous years count. The results of the present studies will be helpful to minimize the losses inflicted by mango malformation disease globally.
Key words: Mangifera indica, malformation, Fusarium mangiferae, assessment, clipping.