Internal Spread of Fungi Inoculated into Mango Logs

Abstract

The Mango (Mangifera indica L.) member of family Anacardiaceae, has become a fruit symbol of Pakistan. Its nutritional value is also overwhelming its importance. Various fungi have been reported on mango trees affecting different plant parts. The main objective behind this experiment was to observe the internal spread of these fungi within the mango logs. Mango logs of thickness about three inches were freshly cut from mango trees variety Samar Bahisht Chaunsa undergoing major pruning. The ends of the logs were immediately painted to avoid the moisture loss and wrapped up in the newspapers. Two fungi selected for inoculation included B. theobromae and N. mangiferae that has been observed on twigs, dry branches as well as on infected bark. The fungal plugs of both fungi were placed into wholes individually as well as in combination in the wholes made at center in the logs, later wrapped by para film at the point of inoculation. The most disastrous situation was observed when the combination of both fungi was inoculated in the mango logs. It not only aggravated the movement wildly all around but broke everything apart like bark removal and splitting of tissues, causing severe decomposition of logs.