The importance of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruits anthracnose and factors influencing the disease in Mana district, south-western Ethiopia

Abstract

Anthracnose disease surveys were conducted in 25 farmers’ orchards, wholesaler and retailer shops in south-west Ethiopia. In addition, harvesting and postharvest practices, and storage conditions influencing disease development were studied with observation and questionnaire. The assessment results indicated significant variation among farmers’ orchards with the highest incidence (84.0 ± 16.7%) and severity index (26.0 ± 5.4%). Anthracnose damage of fruit was higher at retailers (76.7 ± 20.8%) than in the wholesalers shop (56.7 ± 32.5%). The total number of isolates identified was 249 and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was the predominant pathogen proved by pathogenecity test. Among the major factors, harvesting avocado fruits with children (88%) and climbing on the tree (72%) resulted in fruit dropping that caused substantial injury and bruise. Generally, anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides of avocado fruit was prevalent in producer orchards that aggravated by traditional harvest and postharvest practices coupled to inadequate transportation and storage facilities at wholesaler and retailer shops with subsequent decay and loss of avocado fruits.