Document Type : Researches
Authors
1
Plant Pathology, Fac. Agric., Omdurman Islamic Univ.–Sudan
2
Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
Abstract
Surveys related to sooty canker disease (branch wilt disease) of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were conducted from June 4, 2017, to June 4, 2018, in the Northern State of Sudan. The objectives of the study were to identify the causal agent of the disease and to investigate its incidence, occurrence, severity, and symptoms on different hosts. Surveys covered 50 orchards across four localities: Halfa, Dongola, El Daba, and Marawi. Pathogens were isolated and identified based on morphological characteristics. Symptoms of the disease in date palms first appeared as chlorosis at the tips of the leaves, followed by necrosis and dryness. Eventually, the trees exhibited wilting and die-back. Black sooty canker layers of spores were observed when infected parts were removed from the affected areas. The distribution of sooty canker disease showed a high incidence in Halfa (31.7%) and Marawi (26.3%), compared to Dongola (20.7%) and El Daba (21.3%). Disease severity was also highest in Halfa (28%) and Marawi (22%), while it was lower in El Daba (18%) and Dongola (16%). Overall, the disease incidence across all surveyed regions ranged from 41% to 20%, with disease severity ranging from 28% to 16%. The mean infection level in date palms was notably high at 25%, compared to 13.5% in mango, citrus, and ficus trees. Among the pathogenic fungi isolated, Nattrassia mangiferae was identified as the major causal agent of sooty canker disease. This fungus was the most dominant species detected, accounting for 25% of all samples examined, followed by Diplodia phonicum (11.5%) and Thielaviopsis paradox (10.5%). Given the economic importance of date palm cultivation in the Northern State, future research should emphasize the management of N. mangiferae.
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