Expert: Richard Clark - 9/26/2006

Question
I live in Los Angeles, CA.  We have a small mango tree that is about 15 years old. It is only about 5' tall because we do not fertilize it or do anything to it except watering it. For the past 15 years it has given us about 5 fruits per year, very good and sweet fruits.  

For the past 2 weeks we noticed the leaves are dried up on many branches and it looks like some sort of fungus is causing the whole tree to die.  The leaves turns dries and dies and I noticed today on the leaves are brown circular spots.  On the branches also dies and has some sort of circular white fungus growth or something.

Does anyone know what fungus or disease this is ? How can we treat it? We want to save our mango tree because we cannot find this variety anywhere. It was given to us by our uncle and he bought it a long time ago at a supermarket somewhere in LA.  The fruit has very good flesh and very fragrant and smooth flesh, not stringy like some other mango.  

Please help if you can.  We really really want to save this mango tree.

Thank you so much in advance,
Irene
bien2005xanh@yahoo.com

Answer
Irene
 I do not grow trees, but you could look for the County Extension Office in the telephone book. They might have a person that could answer your question. Also look for a nursery they also may have a person to help.
Sorry this is the best I can do.
Best of luck, Richard