Mostro:

I am still a bit baffled. And thanks for posting the sites about anthracnose. I think I have also posted the IFAS article previously in another thread, but I had not seen the Mexican report regarding growing areas where Ataulfo mangoes are produced. The Mexican article is very technical, but as I read it, it does not seem to mention or describe the kind of damage that you and Mango Kush (his observations at Spyke's Grove here in Broward County posted in another thread) are attributing to anthracnose. As far as I see, it is a disease predominantly of the blossoms and fruits, but can cause some spotting on the leaves. Certainly moisture, from whatever source, can help to facilitate the growth and spread of the anthracnose spores. Could you point me to anything in the literature you have found that demonstrates limb die back as the result of anthracnose? I'd appreciate it if you could....I still suspect that you have something else going on that is causing this. Thanks.

Harry

Hello Harry:
I have not been able to locate credible sources that clearly and directly state that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (the anthracnose fungus) can cause twig die back. It is very possible that the twig die back I experienced with my 'Julie' mango resulted from another problem that I failed to diagnose properly. Also, I don't have the 'Julie' tree any more so I am unable to verify the cause of the problem I described previously...

At any rate, my current three mango trees are definitely suffering from a severe infestation of something and every road I take leads me to anthracnose. I have not seen any twig die back on these trees though. However, the defoliation of new flushes is basically guaranteed... Remember that only from Nov to Apr are the symptoms so severe, the summer is fine.

Here is an article that talks about the defoliation of mango new growth by anthracnose and bacterial black spot:
Blight diseases in mangoes: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/120114/blight-disease-mango.pdf

Here are a couple of lines from the article:
"It is the most common disease of mangoes on the north coast of NSW, devastating young leaves and often causing defoliation of flush growth."

I'm going to try to get some pictures of the damage this weekend and I will post them. Maybe your trained eye will see something I'm not seeing...

Thank you for your interest in my problem and for sharing your experience with all of us!

Oh, forgot to ask...

Would my extention office be able to diagnose the problem if I take a leaf sample to them? I mean, diagnose it with high accuracy...

Alright:
I found a reference to twig and small branch die back that is caused by anthracnose. The link to the article is below and also a few relevant lines from it:

Mangoes in India / DISEASES: http://www.horticultureworld.net/mango-india2.htm

Relevant lines from the article:
"Anthracnose (Colletotrichum state of Glomerella cingulata Ston, Spaull and Schrenk) : The anthracnose disease is of widespread occurrence. The disease causes serious losses to young shoots, flowers and fruits under favourable climatic conditions of high humidity, frequent rains and a temperature of 24-32oC. It is also affects fruits during storage. The disease produces leaf spot, blossom blight, withertip, twig blight and fruit rot symptoms. Tender shoots and foliage are easily affected which ultimately cause Âdie back of young branches. Older twigs may also be infected through wounds which in severe cases may be fatal."

I don't know how reliable the information in this article is, but it looks good at least. It also fits in with my observations and mango_kush's...

Thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: Mangos in India (diseases)

Mostro:

Thanks for posting that article. Looks pretty authoritative to me. I still think you have more than just anthracnose going on. I wonder if the description of one of the other diseases fits with what you are experienceing and with what Mango Kush posted? See below...what do you think?

Die back (Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat.) : Die back is one of the serious diseases of mango. The disease is prevalent in Rajasthan, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Orissa, Gujrat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The disease on the tree may be noticed at any time of the year but it is most conspicuous during Oct.-Nov. The disease is characterized by drying of twigs and branches followed by complete defoliation, which gives the tree an appearance of scorching by fire. The onset of die back becomes evident by discolouration and darkening of the bark. The dark area advances and young green twigs start withering first at the base and then extending outwards along the veins of leaf edges. The affected leaf turns brown and its margins roll upwards. At this stage, the twig or branch dies, shrivels and falls. This may be accompanied by exudation of gum. In old branches, brown streaking of vascular tissue is seen on splitting it longitudinally. The areas of cambium and phloem show brown discolouration and yellow gum like substance is found in some of the cells.

As far as the extention office ID'ing it....maybe in Dade or Broward.....probably not in Duval......but worth a try in any case. Worse thing that'll happen is they will have no answer.

Harry

Hi again:
Yes, maybe the description of "mango die back" (Botryodiplodia theobromae) fits the Julie's problem, but my current mango trees have never had twig die back. What they have is severe defoliation of new growth and new flushes that come in the middle of winter never even elongate (leaves fall off while very small). I think the reason for the stunted growth is low winter temperature.

I'll post some pictures this weekend. Too bad I don't have pictures of the trees from before I figured out that copper spraying would save the mature leaves. They looked like they had been through nuclear war...

I just wanted to say that I have not had a chance to take the pictures of my mangos, because they are covered up completely. I should be removing the cold protection stuff in a couple of days, so I will take the pics then...

You might consider the possibility of a disease called mango malformation. About ten years ago I bought a new mango tree for my yard. It gradually died, from symptoms like you describe. I removed it, but it had infected a nearby Carrie tree, which never bore fruit again. I removed that tree, but by then the disease had spread to the next nearest tree, which has never born fruit.

Back then the mango experts I consulted didn't think mango malformation could be found in south Florida.

Incidentally, I tried removing every single leaf-bearing branch from the Carrie, and spraying the remaining skeleton with Copper. The tree grew back, but so did the disease.

from what i read mango malformation is like fusarium wilt
awesome