This study aimed to identify the main causal agent of cowpea seed rot and preemergence damping-off in Kerbala province and evaluate some indigenous biocontrol factors in comparison with biological and chemical commercial products in control of the pathogen. The results showed that the main cause of this disease was Rhizoctonia solani where all isolates of this fungus showed a notable pathogenicity. Moreover, all biological agents examined were found to be effective against the pathogen. The maximum inhibition percentages (100 and 89%) were achieved by the commercial products (Beltanol and EM1) while the local biocontrol agents Bacillus cerus and B. subtilis reached 82.66% and 82.22% respectively. However, the third indigenous biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum showed inhibition percentage more than 75% and less than 100%. Additionally, all biological control agents demonstrated a high efficiency in protection of cowpea seeds from R. solani infection. This was through decreasing percentage of seeds rot and pre-emergence damping-off in whole treatments compared with control (the pathogen only). The lowest percentage was reached by B. subtilis and Beltanol (0%) followed by B. cerus (5.6%) then T.harzianum (6.7%) and Em1 (21.7%) respectively. However, in control (the pathogen only) was 50%.

This study was carried out to identify the causal agent of root rot on date palm in major growing areas in Iraq. As well as, the efficiency of ZnO and MgO NPs were assessed against the pathogen. Microscopic examination and morphological characterization revealed that Fusarium sp. was present in all examined samples and was the most pathogenic fungi. The PCR specificity identification based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)/5.8S regions showed that the pathogenic fungus was Fusarium fujikuroi. The F. fujikuroi inhibited seed germination 53.55% compared with seed germination of 81 % in control. All concentrations (1,2,4 g/l) of ZnO NPs proved to be effective against F. fujikuroi particularly at concentrations 4 g/l with inhibition percentage exceeded 74.05%. Although, the same concentrations of MgO NPs did not show same inhibition capacity against the same pathogen comparing with ZnO NPs, they were significantly better than in control. The results indicate clearly to possibly to use the fungicides with ZnO and MgO NPs particularly at concentrations 2,4g/l in management of pollen rot of date palm trees. Information from this study might assist scientists to design effective strategies in controlling date palm diseases.