Mango growing is being affected by different diseases which reduces the ability of farmers to produce.
Mango growing requires farmers to know the challenges.
Bacteria black spot weakens branches and cause fruit drop.
BBS identification
It is identified by presence of black spots, black cracks, and rough cracks on leaves, young shoots and mature branches.
It is cased by bacteria from infected seedling. Infection rate is high at beginning and end of rainy season.
It enters tree through damage points and spread by wind at 200m/year.
Disease control
To prevent the disease, farmers need to work as a group, plant trees at wind ward side of orchard to shied against infection.
Make research, use disease free seedling, and remove infected parts from tree.
Inspect a farm regularly, protect flowers first, remove infected fruits and destroy them.
Dont work in orchards during rain and disinfect tool before used on other trees using disinfectants.
Use fungicides. Spraying schedule depends on fungicides and make consultations .
Spray using copper, systemic before and after flowering at 2-3 weeks interval. Dont spray during flowering to avoid destroying flowers.
Stop application 3 weeks before harvest. Dont use systemics more than 3 times in a year.
Rotate different contacts and systemic fungicides to avoid disease resistance.
