Mycoflora Associated with Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) from Ad Darb, Jizan, Saudi Arabia

Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a very important and commonly growing tree found in Saudi Arabia. The fruit is nutritionally important and adds to the economy of the country. Isolation and identification of the phytopathogenic mycoflora is an important tool in the diagnosis of the pathogenic genera which are damaging to the palm under study. This is the first attempt to isolate and identify the phytopathogenic fungal flora found on the phylloplane and other plant parts of date palm from Ad Darb region of Jizan province during the year 2018. The media employed for the study was Potato Dextrose Agar on which 0.5 cm direct pieces of the diseased parts (phylloplane, fruit, rachis and trunk) of the date palm were inoculated. The isolated fungi were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively and the results interpreted in the form of table, bar diagram and photomicrographs. The mycoflora is represented by Aspergillus, Botrytis, Ceratocystis, Fusarium, Graphiola, Penicillium, Rhizopus ,Saprolegnia and Syncephalastrum. One hundred and fifty four fungal isolates were obtained from the nine represented genera. Aspergillus was the predominant genera with seventy four isolates. This study will help in the protection and conservation of this very important plant in the province. The study can also help the plant pathologist in disease forecasting and effective monitoring of the different diseases of the date palm thereby helping in the management and minimization of economic loss.