Post Harvest Anthracnose of Mango Caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides: A Review

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an edible stone fruit most widely grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is been cultivated in South Asia around 4000 years. The genus Mangifera consists totally 49 species, but only 41 species are considerable. Mango is the most cultivated and important fruit around the world especially in India. Since ages, the people from ancient India describe mango tree as ‘Kalpavriksha’ which means wish granting tree. Mango is the eight most important fruit crop grown throughout the world which it contains the nutritive values, minerals, vitamins and dietary fibers. Mango is highly perishable due to climacteric nature of the fruit, it produces high amount of ethylene which is known as ‘Ripening hormone’. However, the fruit quality and commercialization were drastically reduced by the fungus anthracnose incited by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; it causes the post-harvest losses of about 35 to 40 percentage, becaming a major post-harvest disease of mango. Many pre-harvest and post-harvest management practices have been practiced to control mango anthracnose including chemical methods. This review summarizes an overview on exhibiting of this disease, the factors influencing them and the recent management approaches to sustain the fruit quality and maintain the supply chain of mango.