Detection and isolation of Ceratocystis fimbriata in mango trees on semi-selective medium

Abstract

Ceratocystis wilt in mango, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is a problem in Brazil, Oman and Pakistan. There is a lack of knowledge regarding this disease, including field detection of the pathogen. This study evaluated the detection of C. fimbriata through carrot baits and a semi-selective medium of stem-inoculated 1-year-old mango plants in a greenhouse and naturally infected 15-year-old mango trees in a commercial orchard. The pathogen was detected with the carrot baits from samples collected at the inoculation point in some greenhouse plants but not from the field trees. C. fimbriata was detected using the semi-selective medium up to 16\xa0cm below the inoculation site of the greenhouse plants, in most of the samples taken from the lesion sites in the field trees, and in one of ten asymptomatic trees that were sampled from the orchard. We concluded that semi-selective medium is an effective and rapid method for diagnosis of C. fimbriata. This is useful for epidemiological studies and more importantly, to manage Ceratocystis wilt in the field.