First Report of <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i> Causing Stem End Rot of Avocado, Pawpaw and Passion Fruits in Ghana

Abstract

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is one of the major causal agents of stem end rot in fruit crops in the tropics. Apart from mango, the disease and its causal agent have not been reported on any other fruit crop in Ghana, though symptoms of the disease are commonly seen on avocado, pawpaw and passion fruits. It was hypothesised that L. theobromae previously associated with mango fruit could also infect pawpaw, avocado and passion fruit due to its wide host range. In this study, the incidence and severity of the disease were determined on healthy mango, avocado, pawpaw and passion fruits collected from different locations in Ghana. The identity of the causal agent of the disease and its ability to cross‐infect among the different fruit crops were investigated. The disease was identified on all the fruit crops collected from the different locations in Ghana, with incidence ranging from more than 60% to more than 70% in year 2023 and 2024. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was confirmed as the causal agent of the disease. Isolates of the pathogen were able to cause the disease on mango, avocado, passion fruit and pawpaw, irrespective of the type of fruit from which they were isolated. This is the first report of stem end rot of avocado, pawpaw and passion fruit caused by L. theobromae in Ghana.