UNRECORDED FUNGAL DISEASES AFFECTING ORNAMENTAL PALMS IN EGYPT: I- SURVEY, SYMPTOMS, ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATED FUNGI

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ornamental, Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Diseases Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Disease survey was carried out for the first time in Egypt (1996­2000) in five governorates in order to search for fungal diseases of 18 palm species, grown in nurseries and /or landscape. Data indicated that there are eight fungal diseases which varied in their importance. Damp­ing-off, root and / or basal stem rot as well as leaf spots were the most serious and prevalent diseases in nursery. Pink rot (Gliocladium vermoe­sent), leaf spots caused by several fungal pathogens and black scorch (Thielaviopsis paradoxa) were the major disease problems on landscape palms. Whereas, Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum), inflorescence rot or Kha­madj disease (Mauginiella scaettae) and Botryodiplodia rot (B. theobrom­ae) were the minor diseases on landscape palms. According to the availa­ble literature, the recorded diseases are unknown fungal problems on ornamental palms in Egypt before our survey trials. Each of the five prevalent diseases in nursery and landscape was recorded on several ornamental palms, whereas the minor ones Fusarium wilt (Archontophoenix alexandrae & Phoenix canariensis), Khamadj dis­ease (Roystonea regia) and Botryodiplodia rot (Pritchardia pacifica, R.regia and Saba! palmetto) were only found on the referred palms. The highest numbers of the diseases were recorded on A. alexandrae and Riegle, while the least on Barahea armata and S. palmetto. On the other hand, fungi associated with each disease were tabulated and general or distinict symptoms were fully described and photographed.