| Author(s) | M. Y. Abdalla and A. A. Al-Rokibah |
| Affiliation | Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud University, Buridah, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | New Record of the Pyrenomycete Coniochaeta velutina Causing Leaf Blight of Date Palm |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 15, No 2. (2003/1423) |
| Abstract | Abstract. Coniochaeta velutina (Fuckel) Munk was isolated for the first time from blighted leaves of date palm trees grown in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Blighted leaflets developed a golden-yellow to rusty color with very small (pin-head-like) dark ascomata scattered on both surfaces of infected leaflets. Koch’s postulates were applied using four months old date palm seedlings grown in vitro as well as leaves of five years old mature trees. Histological studies of infected tissues revealed that the fungus grew both intra-and intercellularly in the parenchymatous cells of the cortical region. Hyphal growth, however; could also be detected in the xylem vessels of artificially inoculated seedlings. This is the first record of C. velutina as a pathogen of date palm. |
