Standing in a mango orchard near Darwin, agronomist Callum Hutcheson observed the decline of trees due to mango twig tip dieback, particularly affecting Kensington Pride mangoes. This disease poses a significant threat to the sustainability of the Darwin mango industry, with a notable impact on yield and production.
Despite efforts, the cause, spread, and treatment of mango twig tip dieback remain elusive. The NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) identified the disease in 2017, mainly in the Darwin region, with a high incidence in Kensington Pride orchards. The region produced approximately 2.1 million trays of mangoes last season, representing about 30% of the national crop.
The disease manifests through browning leaves and dying stems, severely affecting fruit production. DITT's Berrimah Farm laboratory has conducted extensive research without pinpointing the disease's cause. Efforts to control mango twig tip dieback have been largely ineffective, with strategies such as fungicide application, limb removal, and tree nutrition enhancement proving futile. Some farms have resorted to bulldozing infected trees. The disease's symptoms are worsening annually, challenging researchers and farmers to identify and manage its spread, which is now observed in other mango varieties beyond Kensington Pride.
Source: abc.net.au