First report of<i>Nigrospora sphaerica</i>(Sacc.) Mason as a potential pathogen on date palm (<i>Phoenix dactylifera</i>L.)

Abstract

Nigrospora sphaerica was isolated from date palm leaves which showed severe symptoms of leaf and stem spot. Pathogenicity tests revealed that several isolates of this fungus reproduced symptoms on the cultivar 'Al-Sayer'. The susceptibility of five different cultivars of date palm showed that 'Halawii' and 'Al-Sayer' were the most susceptible to infection compared with other cultivars such as 'Barhee', 'Zahdi' and 'Khadrawii'. Morphological and molecular characteristics confirmed the identification of N. sphaerica. The phytotoxicity of the culture filtrates were investigated, and shown to induce severe symptoms on date palm leaves.