Mango grower Marshall Haritos, from Berry Springs, once harvested 18,000 trays of Kensington Pride mangoes annually. Over five years, a disease known as mango twig tip dieback has reduced his yield to 4,000 cartons, threatening the viability of his operation. "If this keeps going for another year or two, I'm coming to the end of it. That'll be it," Haritos stated.
First identified in the Darwin region in 2017, this disease does not affect fruit quality but significantly reduces yield. An agronomist highlighted it as the primary issue for the Darwin mango industry, especially for Kensington Pride growers. Despite various interventions, including altering fertilizers and applying fungicides, the disease persists. "There must be a cure for this. I certainly haven't found it," Haritos remarked.
Research by the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has identified two fungi, Lasiodiplodia and Neofusicoccum, as probable causes. Dr Sally Heaton, Northern Territory chief plant health officer, noted these fungi could become pathogenic when trees face stressors like water scarcity or extreme temperatures. "These two fungi can turn pathogenic and seem to cause disease in the trees," she explained.
Dr Stan Bellgard, coordinating the research, acknowledged the challenge in diagnosing the disease, as similar pathogens emerged globally around the same time. Leo Skliros, Northern Territory Mango Industry Association president, views the discovery as a "first step" after growers' advocacy. As researchers pursue a cure, Dr Bellgard emphasizes collaborative efforts involving agronomic consultants and farmers. "The way forward is together," he stated.
Source: ABC News