Evaluation of Taxa for Tolerance against Floral Malformation in Gangetic West Bengal

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) the king of fruit is succumb to attack of many pathogens causing various diseases. The crop is vulnerable at all of its growth stages starting from seedling to fruit maturity even at post harvest stage during storage, transit and marketing. Among several diseases affecting the crop, powdery mildew, anthracnose and malformation cause economic losses. As the host resistance is compatible with other methods of control, therefore, this verdict may guide the orchardists to develop an integrated disease management programme. Keeping this in view, a survey was carried out in Gangetic West Bengal during the year 2004 to 2006, and screened twenty varieties of mango of three to five years bearing plant for tolerance against floral malformation. Susceptibility rating was done using 0 to 5 scale and the host-taxa were classified to their response to the pathogen. It was found that among the taxa, Mallika was recorded to be the most susceptible against floral malformation and Kishan Bhog was the least. The order of susceptibility of mango varieties to floral malformation in descending order was Mallika, Kesar, Suvarnrekha, Dashehari, Alphonso, Chousa, Neelum, Bangalora, Mulgoa, Vanraj, Himsagar, Fazli, Fernandin, Langra, Baneshan, Mankurad, Bombay Green, Zardalu, Bombai and Kishan Bhog.