Progress on the Mango Twig Tip Dieback (MTTD) Project
Collaborative work to better understand and manage Mango Twig Tip Dieback (MTTD) continues to advance across the Northern Territory, with the NT Government, Australian Mango Industry Association, NT Mango Industry Association and NT Farmers Association jointly driving this important multi‑year project.
MTTD, linked to Botryosphaeriaceae fungi and plant stress, remains a significant concern for growers in the Greater Darwin production region. The disease affects young shoots and branches, leading to canopy thinning, reduced flowering and lower yields. With symptoms recurring annually at the start of the dry season, the need for robust management tools is clear.
As part of the ongoing project, researchers and industry partners are progressing work in several key areas, including:
- Regional surveillance and pathogen identification to determine distribution and monitor disease behaviour.
- Spore monitoring and environmental analysis to better understand seasonal triggers.
- Cultivar susceptibility assessments to identify potential varietal differences in resilience.
- Stress physiology research exploring how drought and other stressors influence infection.
- Field treatment trials, including testing systemic fungicides and phosphonate-based approaches.
Early findings reinforce the importance of early detection, targeted pruning, and stress reduction as core management strategies for growers. Further field trials through the dry and wet seasons will continue to refine integrated strategies aimed at slowing disease progression and minimising productivity loss.
A new fact sheet is now available to support growers with practical information on identifying symptoms, understanding causal agents, and implementing management options.
Download the Mango Twig Tip Dieback fact sheet PDF (3.8 MB) or for more information go to the Mangoes page.
