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Molecular identification of fungal pathogens associated with date palm root diseases in the United Arab Emirates

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Abstract

Date palm is the most widely cultivated crop in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study identified the main fungal root pathogens of date palms in the UAE. Isolations were established from 84 root samples and the recovered fungal isolates were identified using morphology and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS rRNA) or the translation elongation factor gene (TEF1). The study revealed association of 10 fungal species with date palm roots, with Fusarium solani (82%), Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis (57%), Ceratocystis radicicola (7%) and L. theobromae (7%) being the most common. A pathogenicity test revealed that C. radicicola is the most aggressive, followed by L. hormozganensis and L. theobromae. These fungi resulted in rotting and development of necrosis on the roots as well as the development of wilt symptoms on 12-month old date palm seedlings. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of association of C. radicicola with date palm root diseases in the UAE. It also appears to report for the first time three new fungal species in the UAE, Fusarium keratoplasticum, Cochliobolus hawaiiensis and Cephaliophora tropica.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and Sultan Qaboos University for supporting the study. Thanks are due to growers for their help in the collection of samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, PO Box 52150, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Mohammed S. Al-Hammadi & Rashid Al-Shariqi

  2. Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al Khod, 123, Sultanate of Oman

    Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura & Abdullah M. Al-Sadi

Authors
  1. Mohammed S. Al-Hammadi
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  2. Rashid Al-Shariqi
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  3. Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura
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  4. Abdullah M. Al-Sadi
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Correspondence to Abdullah M. Al-Sadi.

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Al-Hammadi, M.S., Al-Shariqi, R., Maharachchikumbura, S.S.N. et al. Molecular identification of fungal pathogens associated with date palm root diseases in the United Arab Emirates. J Plant Pathol 101, 141–147 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0089-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0089-8

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