Effect of bio-agents on pathogenic fungi associated with roots of some deciduous fruit transplants and growth parameters in New Valley Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Root rot and wilt disease complex was detected in several fig (Ficus carica L.), grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) transplants in nurseries and new orchards of the El-Kharga, Baris, Balate, El-Dakhla, and El-Farafrah districts, of the New Valley governorate, Egypt. The percentage of root rot/wilt incidence and severity on fig, grapevine, and pomegranate transplants in the surveyed districts differed. The average percentages of root rot/wilt incidence and severity, in the surveyed districts, were 41.26, 31.42% in fig, 38.2, 29.5% in grapevine, and 32.1, 23.7% in pomegranate transplants, respectively. The most frequently isolated fungi from rotted roots of fig, grapevine, and pomegranate transplants were Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Macrophomena phaseolina. In pathogenicity tests, all the tested fungi were pathogenic to fig, grapevine, and pomegranate transplants. Under laboratory conditions, all of the following tested bio-agents: Azotobacter sp., Bacillus cereus, B. megaterium, and B. subtilis, were able to inhibit growth of the causal pathogens to different degrees. The effect of these bio-agents individually and/or mixed, when used as a soil drench treatment, were varied in reducing the incidence and severity of root rot/wilt diseases in fig, grapevine, and pomegranate transplants under greenhouse conditions. The mixed bio-agents gave the highest protection against root rot/wilt diseases compared with the individually used of bio-agents. All treatments significantly increased plant height, number of leaves/transplant, leaf area, fresh and dry weight/transplant compared with the control treatment.

Development of a nested-PCR assay for the rapid detection of Pilidiella granati in pomegranate fruit

“…It is native to Iran and Turkey but has been cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region and northern India since ancient times123. Pomegranate fruit is rich in a variety of compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, steroids, sterols, vitamin C, fatty acids, organic acids, tannins, and several resinous and polyphenolic substances.…”

Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and/or Baker's yeast on root rot/ wilt disease and growth parameters of date palm offshoots in New Valley Governorate, Egypt

“…Soil-borne pathogenic fungi viz. F. oxysporum, F. Equisetai F. solani F. semitectium and F. moniliforme caused root rots of date palm trees in both locations of New Valley governorate under study, El-Kharga and El-Dalkla Oasis (El-Morsi et al, 2009, Arafat et al, 2012and El-Morsy et al, 2015. Pathogeni city tests showed that Fusariu moxysporum, F. solani and F. Moniliforme were the causal agents of root rot and wilt diseases on date palm seedling.…”

“…A considerable role in limiting the populations of these pathogenic fungi inhabiting the above ground parts of plants is played by antagonistic microorganisms. Such properties are first of all exposed by the arbus cular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and/or Baker ' s yeast (BY) (El-Mehalawy, 2004, El-Morsi, et al, 2009and Ziedan et al, 2011.…”

Traditional pathology and phylogenetic networking confirm the pathogen causing date palm wilt

“…Disease severity was estimated using the disease rating scale (El-Morsi et al, 2009). Isolation and purification of associated fungi: Samples were thoroughly washed with tap and distilled water for surface sterilization.…”