Gamliel-Atinsky, E., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel, Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Freeman, S., Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Sztejnberg, A., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Maymon, M., Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Ochoa, R., Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
Belausov, E., Microscopy Unit, ARO, Volcani Center, Israel
Palevsky, E., Department of Entomology, Newe-ya'Ar Research Center, ARO, Ramat Yishay, 30095, Israel

The role of the mango bud mite, Aceria mangiferae, in carrying conidia of Fusarium mangiferae, vectoring them into potential infection sites, and assisting fungal infection and dissemination was studied. Following the mite's exposure to a green fluorescent protein-marked isolate, conidia were observed clinging to the mite's body. Agar plugs bearing either bud mites or the pathogen were placed on leaves near the apical buds of potted mango plants. Conidia were found in bud bracts only when both mites and conidia were co-inoculated on the plant, demonstrating that the mite vectored the conidia into the apical bud. Potted mango plants were inoculated with conidia in the presence or absence of mites. Frequency and severity of infected buds were significantly higher in the presence of mites, revealing their significant role in the fungal infection process. Conidia and mite presence were monitored with traps in a diseased orchard over a 2-year period. No windborne bud mites bearing conidia were found; however, high numbers of windborne conidia were detected in the traps. These results suggest that A. mangiferae can carry and vector conidia between buds and assist in fungal penetration but does not play a role in the aerial dissemination of conidia between trees. © 2009 The American Phytopathological Society.