Abstract:
Purpose: Stem-End Rot (SER) is one of the most frequently found mango postharvest diseases in many
countries including Sri Lanka. Availability of a significantly detailed study on morphological and
molecular characterization of the SER associated fungal species is comparatively low. The present study
has been carried out considering the above fact.
Research Method: SER disease associated fungi were isolated and identification was carried out using
morphological characteristics. Identification was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of newly generated
ITS sequencing data using Maximum Likelihood (ML) with RAxML software (Ver.8.2.10).
Findings: From the morphological studies it was observed that the fungal isolates SER1, SER2, SER3
and SER6 produced conidia on Potato Dextrose Agar. Both morphological and molecular results
revealed that the isolates of SER1, SER4, SER5, and SER6 which were isolated from diseased Karutha
Colomban mango fruits with SER (in Sri Lanka) belong to Lasiodiplodia sp., Nodulisporium sp., Xylaria
feejeensis and Pestalotiopsis sp. respectively. Both SER2 and SER3 were confirmed as Phomopsis sp.
During the present study two new fungal species (Xylaria spp. and Nodulisporium spp.) were also
identified for the first time from SER of Karutha Colomban mango fruits.
Research Limitations: The pathogenicity of these isolates will be tested in near future, since the study
was mainly focused on the isolation and identification of the SER associated fungal species.
Originality/ Value: Results of the present study will be very valuable for stakeholders in Agricultural
sector, before designing control strategies at post-harvest level in order to minimize the loss and extend
the storage life of mango.
