Effect of temperature and relative humidity on growth and sporulation of Fusarium mangiferae under in vitro conditions

An experiment was conducted during 2008-2009 under in vitro to find out the optimum conditions that are favorable for growth and sporulation of Fusarium mangiferae. with varying temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 +/- 1 degrees C with 5 degrees C fraction at two levels of relative humidity (35 +/- 2 and 65 +/- 2%). The growth of F. mangiferae was observed after 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 days of incubation. The spore count was done on the 12(th) day using haemocytometer. The fungal growth was observed at 20-30 degrees C. There was no growth of fungus at temperatures below 10 and above 40 degrees C. The temperatures 27 degrees C followed by 25 degrees C with 65% relative humidity were found optimum for better growth and sporulation of F. mangiferae. Temperature, relatively humidity and the interaction effects are highly correlated. The result of the present studies indicates that F. mangiferae may be responsible for inducing the symptoms of malformation disease in mango at 25 to 27 degrees C with 60-65% relative humidity.