Isolation and identification of fungi associated with leaf blight disease of mango (Mangifera indica L.) in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a tropical tree crop belonging to the family of Anacardiaceae. Blight disease include sudden and severe yellowing, browning, spotting, withering, or dying of leaves, flowers, fruit, stems, or the entire plant. This study was carried out to isolate and identify the fungi associated with leaf blight disease of Mangifera indica. Leaves were cut into small pieces, sterilized, rinsed in three (3) changes of sterile distilled water, placed in the Petri dishes containing the PDA, incubated at room temperature and observed for fungal growth. The positive plates were sub cultured to obtain pure cultures and the macroscopic and microscopic features of culture were examined. The fungi identified during the research work were: Fusarium sp., Phoma sp., and Rhizoctonia sp. As a pathogen, Fusarium infects above-ground and below-ground plant parts, either as the main or secondary pathogen. Phoma species and other related genera are known to contain a large number of pathogenic species associated with leaf, grain or stem diseases. Rhizoctonia sp. were found to be associated with leaf blight on the diseased mango leaves. The percentage abundance of the fungi isolated are: Fusarium sp. (40%), Phoma asp. (20%), and Rhizoctonia sp. (40%). It is recommended that molecular characterization should be carried out to determine the identification of fungi to species level and proper cultural practices, such as maintaining good hygiene, proper spacing, and removing infected leaves, can help manage the disease.
Keywords: Fungi, Identification, Isolation, Fusarium sp., Pathogen, Phoma sp., Percentage abundance, Rhizoctonia sp.
*Correspondence: ayahaya@abu.edu.ng, +2348035475916
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