It is an ascomycete plant pathogen native to tropical regions and specific for survival on only one host, the mango.

[1] Elsinoë mangiferae produces symptoms superficially similar to anthracnose infections, which are also common on mango.

The disease initially presents as small dark brown or gray spots on the underside of leaves or fruit.

[2] The main lifestyle difference between these two is that anthracnose infections are caused by saprotrophic fungi, while E. mangiferae is exclusively a biotrophic pathogen.

The symptoms of mango scab vary depending on the factors such as the part of the plant that is affected, age of tissue, inoculum potential, water and mineral nutrition.

[3][4] Confirmation of the presence of mango scab requires microscopic examination of material from fruit, stems or leaves, and culture of the organism.

[3][4] Common symptom on stem is the mass of grey oval to elliptical lesions that are around 1–2 mm in diameter.

Benomyl, the systemic benzimidazole fungicide, has also been used as a means to control mango scab infection, but has been out of production since 2001.

One common vectors of mango scab is water splashes from nearby Whether or not conidia and ascospores are infectious is not known.