Mango R&D workshop
Plant Industries, NT DAF, contributed to the Mango R&D Workshop and Field Day, an AMIA-led event held in Katherine and Darwin on 27–28 May 2026.
The two-day event brought together growers, researchers and industry stakeholders, to share knowledge and explore the latest developments in mango research and production.
Day 1 at the Katherine Research Station (KRS) featured presentations from NT DAF and interstate researchers, covering topics such as mango physiology, genomics, production systems and postharvest assessments. Plant Industries research highlights included mango defence responses to environmental and biological stresses, tissue culture and propagation techniques, rootstock and scion evaluation trials, and postharvest fruit quality assessments to support market access decision making. The program concluded with a tour of current research trials at the station.
Day two in Darwin focused on practical, on-farm knowledge exchange, including an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) field walk and updates on Integrated management of Mango Twig Tip Dieback (IM-MTTD) trials and application of emerging technologies, including BioScout.
Field demonstrations highlighted practical approaches to pest management and ongoing work to improve orchard productivity and resilience.
A strong focus was placed on IM-MTTD with research presentations led by NT DAF and BioScout. Key messages of the session included:
- MTTD is increasing across Darwin orchards, affecting multiple cultivars and posing a risk to yield and orchard longevity.
- The disease is driven by opportunistic fungal pathogens that remain latent in plants and are triggered by stress, making diagnosis and control challenging.
- Effective management requires an integrated approach combining cultural practices, stress reduction and targeted treatments.
- NT DAF continues to investigate MTTD to support the development of a sustainable management strategy for growers.
We acknowledge the Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA), the Northern Territory Mango Industry Association (NT MIA), The Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers), BioScout, the Plant Biosecurity branch, participating growers and all attendees for their participation and engagement.
