Mango is one of the most important commercial fruit crops of India and is widely known as the ‘King of Fruits. Mangoes are mainly grown in tropical and subtropical areas in India. It grows best at a temperature of about 27°C. Uttar Pradesh is the leading producer of Mango with a 23.58 % share in total production and high productivity. India is a leading exporter of fresh mangoes to the world. Around 27,872.78 MT of fresh mangoes are exported to the world for the worth of Rs. 327.45 crores or 44.05 USD Millions in the year 2021-22. Major Exporting Countries are the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
Botanical Name of Mango: Mangifera indica
Mango Flowers:
Mango flowers are hermaphrodite, monoecious, and are borne from inflorescence. Among all the flowers, only a few develop into fruits. Although mango flowers are hermaphrodites, cross-pollination contributes to the maximum fruit set. They are mostly pollinated by birds and insects such as bees, beetles, ants, wasps, and flies. Mango flowers bloom from December and can extend up to March. However, fruit development starts from January to May depending upon the time of flower initiation.
Flower Initiation:
- Favorable conditions – Flowering is mainly influenced by climatic conditions, especially temperature, rainfall, and high humidity. Rainfall during the pre-flowering and flowering stages can lead to delayed flowering and cloudy weather during the flowering stage leads to heavy flower drop.
- Pruning – Pruning affects flowering and yield. Pruning during the middle of December (Pre-flowering stage) will result in floral flush.
- Plant Growth regulators – Ethephon, Paclobutrazol, Alpha Naphthyl acetic acid are used to either induce flowering or enhance fruit set.
Major Pests affecting Mango Flowers:
Mango Hoppers:
Scientific name: Idioscopus niveoparsus, I.nitidulus, Amritodus atkinsoni
Damage causing insect stage: Nymphs and Adults
Symptoms:
- Withering and shedding of florets
- Affected flower stalks become sticky due to honeydew secretion which causes sooty mould development
Favorable conditions for Mango hoppers infestation in Mango flowers:
Shade and high humidity due to close planting favor its multiplication.
Management of Mango hoppers:
Application – First spray during panicle emergence stage, second spray after 15 days of first spray, and later depending on pest intensity
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
| Biological Management | ||
| Eco neem plus | Azadiractin 10000 PPM | 325-450 ml |
| Anand Dr. Bacto’s Meta (Bio insecticide) | Metarhizium anisopliae | Foliar spray: 2 ml/lit Soil application: 2 lit |
| Chemical Management | ||
| Actara Insecticide | Thiamethoxam 25 % WG | 0.5 gm/lit |
| Alika Insecticide | Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC | 0.3 ml/lit |
| Keefun insecticide | Tolfenpyrad 15% EC | 2 ml/lit |
| Tatamida SL Insecticide | Imidacloprid 17.8% SL | 1-2 ml/lit |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Vanproz Immune Mango Special | Micronutrients with amino acid, growth-supporting co-factors, and biostimulant | Foliar – 2-3 ml/lit Soil Drenching- 5 ml/lit |
| Multiplex Chamak Micronutrient | Micronutrients (Calcium & Boron) | Foliar – 3.0 gm/lit |
Flower gall midge / Inflorescence midge
Scientific name: Procystiphora mangiferae, Erosomyia indica, Dasineura amaramanjarae
Damage causing insect stage: Maggots
Symptoms:
- Maggots penetrate into the flower bud by making holes and feeding on the inner content
- The affected inflorescence is stunted and malformed
- Affected flower buds fail to open and fall down
Favorable conditions for Inflorescence midge infestation in Mango flower:
Strong winds, infected plant materials, early blooming, and maggots hibernating in the soil favor pest multiplication.
Management of Inflorescence midge / Flower gall midge:
Application – Three to five sprays at 15-30 days intervals depending on pest intensity
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
| Biological Management | ||
| Neem 1500 PPM Biopesticide | Azadiractin 1500 PPM (0.15%) EC | 2-2.5 ml/liter |
| T.Stanes Nimbecidine | Azardiractin 300 PPM (EC formulation) | 10 ml/liter |
| Chemical Management | ||
| Anant Insecticide | Thiamethoxam 25 % WG | 0.3 – 0.5 gm/lit |
| Tafgor Insecticide | Dimethoate 30% EC | 1.5 – 2.5 ml/lit |
| Reeva 5 Insecticide | Lambda Cyhalothrin 5 % EC | 2 ml/liter |
| Police insecticide | Fipronil 40% + Imidacloprid 40% WG | 0.2 -0.6gm/lit |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Ethrel | Ethephon 39 SL (39% w/w) | 1- 2.5 ml/lit or 200-500 ml/acre |
| Allbor-Boron 20% | 20% Boron in water-soluble form. | Drip: 500 gm Foliar: 1 gm/lit |
Mealy bug
Scientific name: Drosicha mangiferae
Damage causing insect stage: Nymph and Adult
Symptoms:
- Pinkish nymph and adult mealy bug present on mango inflorescence
- Nymphs suck the juice from flower pedicels and cause drying of inflorescence
Favorable conditions for Mealy bug infestation in Mango flower:
Alternate weed host like Clerodendrum inflortunatum, warm humid climate, and rainfall favors pest attack.
Management of Mealy bug:
Application – Spray during pre-bloom stage at15-30 days interval depending on pest intensity
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per liter water) |
| Biological Management | ||
| Greenpeace Neemol (10000PPM) Bio neem oil | Neem Oil extracts (Azardiractin) | Foliar Spray: 1 – 2 ml/lit |
| Sun Bio Vetri | Verticilium lecanii | 5 ml/lit |
| Anand Dr Bacto’s Brave (Bio Insecticide) | Beauveria bassiana | Foliar spray – 2.5 ml/lit |
| Chemical Management | ||
| Alika Insecticide | Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC | 0.5 ml/lit |
| Predator Insecticide | Chlorpyriphos 50 % EC | 2 ml/lit |
| Tafgor insecticide | Dimethoate 30% EC | 1.5 – 2.5 ml/l |
| Sivanto Bayer Insecticide | Flupyradifurone | 2 ml/lit |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Multiplex Chamak Micronutrient | Calcium and Boron | 0.3 gm/lit |
| Ecohume – Bioactive humic substances 6% | Humic acid 6% and Fulvic acid | Foliar spray: 405 – 485 ml |
Flower webber
Scientific name: Eublemma versicolor
Damage causing insect stage: Larva
Symptoms:
- Affected flowers are webbed together by the larva
- Larva penetrates into the inflorescence stalk by making holes
Favourable conditions for Flower webber infestation in Mango flower:
Shade due to close planting, high temperature and humidity favours flower webber infestation.
Management of Flower webber:
Application – Three to five sprays at 15-30 days interval depending on pest intensity
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) | |
| Biological Management | |||
| Anshul Bio Finish (Bio Pesticide) | Plant Extracts | Foliar Spray: 3 – 5 ml/lit | |
| Chemical Management | |||
| Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC | 0.4 ml/litre | ||
| Ekalux Insecticide | Quinalphos 25 % EC | 2 ml/litre | |
| Police insecticide | Fipronil 40% + Imidacloprid 40% WG | 0.2 -0.6 gm/lit | |
| Karate insecticide | Lambdacyhalothrin 5% EC | 1.5 – 1.65 ml/lit | |
| Plant growth boosters | |||
| Cultar | Paclobutrazol | For trees < 10 years age: 8 ml/tree dissolved in water For trees > 10 years age: 16 ml/tree dissolved in water (In both cases, apply to the root zone) | |
Major Diseases affecting Mango Flowers:
- Mango Powdery mildew
Causal organism: Oidium mangiferae
Symptoms:
- White superficial powdery fungal growth is seen on flowers
- Leads to pre-mature dropping of affected flowers
Favourable conditions for Powdery mildew incidence in Mango:
Rainfall or mist along with cooler nights during flowering stage are favourable for disease spread.
Management of Powdery mildew in Mango flower:
Application – Spray fungicides at 14 – 20 days interval during flowering stage and later depending upon disease infection
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
| Biological management | ||
| Anand Dr. Bacto’s Fluro | Pseudomonas fluorescence | Foliar: 2.5 ml/lit |
| Geolife Recover Nutri | Natural extracts & antioxidants | Foliar: 0.5 – 1 gm/lit |
| Chemical Management | ||
| Karathane Gold | Meptyldinocap 35.7% EC | 0.7 ml/lit |
| Contaf Plus | Hexaconazole 5 % SC | 2 ml/ lit |
| Saaf fungicide | Mancozeb 63% + Carbendazim 12% WP | 1.5 g/ lit |
| Merivon fungicide | Fluxapyroxad 250 G/L + Pyraclostrobin 250 G/L SC | 0.4 ml/lit |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Multiplex Sulphur Liquid fertilizer | Sulphur 20% | 2.5 ml/l |
| Amibion Flower Booster | Amino Acids & Peptides Mixture | 1 – 2 ml/lit |
(Note:Multiplex Sulphur Liquid fertilizer are not compatible with all pesticides and fungicides)
Mango malformation
Causal organism: Fusarium moliliforme var. subglutinans
Symptoms:
- Affected floral buds are transformed into vegetative buds with large number of small leaves
- It gives an appearance of ‘witches broom’
- Affected flower buds do not open and remain dull green
Favourable conditions for mango malformation incidence in Mango flower:
Presence of infected plant material, mango bud mite infestation, moist weather conditions favours development of this disease.
Management of mango malformation in mango flower:
Application – Depending upon disease seriousness and mite infestation, spray with 15 – 18 days interval from pre-blossom stage
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre) |
| Biological management | ||
| Sun Bio Bacil Fungicide | Bacillus subtilis | Foliar: 5 ml/lit |
| Multiplex Nisarga | Trichoderma viride | Foliar: 1ml/lit or 3 g/lit |
| Chemical Management | ||
| Avtar Fungicide | Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% | 2-2.5 gm/liter |
| Indofil M-45 fungicide | Mancozeb 75% WP | 600-800gm/acre |
| Benmain Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% DF | 2 gm/lit |
| Oberon Insecticide (To control mites) | Spiromesifen 240 SC (22.9 % w/w) | 0.3 ml/liter |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Katyayani Alpha Naphthyl Acetic Acid | Katyayani NAA – Alpha Naphthyl Acetic Acid 4.5% SL | 0.3 ml/lit |
| Greenpeace Gulf Micronutrient | Sulfur 80% | 1 – 1.5 ml/lit |
| Planofix Plant Growth regulator | Alpha Naphthyl Acetic Acid 4.5 SL (4.5% w/w) |
|
Anthracnose
Causal organism: Collectotrichum gloeosporioides
Symptoms:
- Causes ‘blossom blight’ in mango
- Black minute spots appear on the floral parts
- Infected floral parts shed off leading to partial or complete de-blossoming
Favourable conditions for Anthracnose incidence in mango flower:
High humidity (95-97%), temperature of 25°C and frequent rainfall favours development of anthracnose disease.
Management of Anthracnose in mango flower:
Application – Spray at 15 days interval during flowering to control blossom infection.
| Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
| Biological management | ||
| Amruth Almonas Liquid (Bio fungicide) | Pseudomonas fluorescence | 2 – 5 ml/lit |
| Sun Bio Monus | Pseudomonas fluorescence | Foliar: 5 ml/lit |
| Chemical management | ||
| Cuprina Fungicide | Copper Oxychloride 50% WG | 1 gm/lit water |
| Turf fungicide | Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP | 1.5-2.5 gm/lit water |
| Companion fungicide | Mancozeb 63% + Carbendazim 12% WP | 1.5 gm/lit |
| Sixer fungicide | Mancozeb 63% WP | 2 gm/lit |
| Plant growth boosters | ||
| Anshul Phalmax | Bio-organics and traces of micronutrients | 2ml/lit |
| Multiplex Kranti Micronutrient fertilizer | Major, Secondary and Micronutrients | 2 to 2.5 ml/lit |
| Wetting agent | ||
| Anshul Stickmax (Used along with Multiplex Kranti micronutrient fertilizer) | Contains Spreading, wetting and sticking agent | 1 ml/lit |
(NOTE: Though Plant growth enhancers are compatible with most pesticides and fungicides, it is suggested for individual application to have good result)
Important:
- Pest and disease should be controlled in Mango during Flower Emergence to Full Bloom stage by using pesticides and fungicides
- If not controlled at this stage, it will wipe off all the flowers and fruits in the tree
- Foliar fertilizer and growth enhancer/growth boosters can also be used in every 7 – 10 days
- Pesticides and fungicides should not be sprayed during Full Bloom stage since pollination by insects will get affected at this time.
Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.
