EFFICIENCY OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND SOME SPECIES OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA TO CONTROL FUNGI Fusarium chlamydosporum CAUSING AGENT OF DECLINE DATE PALM OFF SHOOTS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluation the efficiency of  Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and some species of  Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to control Fusarium chlamydosporum fungus causing agent of decline date palm off-shoots. The isolation and identification results  showed presence of F. chlamydosporum fungus from infected roots of infected palm trees and its major causing agent of diseases. The results  appeared  Pseudomonas fluorescens , Azotobacter chroococcum and Azosperillium sp. have high antagonism of pathogen under laboratory conditions. The evaluation results of  biocontrol factors Glomus  intraradices, G. mosseae, Gigaspora,  P. fluorescens, A. chroococcum and Azospirillum sp.  indicated that all treatments caused significant reduction in disease  severity of death palm off-shoots disease into13.3-60.0%. compared to control (pathogen only) 86.7%. The interaction between G. intraradices and  P. flourescens  caused significant reduction in disease severity to 13.3% and enhanced the growth of foliage and root of offshoots length to 39.0 and 36.3cm respectively and increased the fresh and dry weight of  foliage and root, 1.7750, 0.4977, 1.764 and  0.339g  this result was closed to Beltanol fungicide effect. Also all biocontrol agents which used in this study alone (without pathogen) enhancement of plant growth  compared with control treatment. The results of the current study showed for the first time that Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Azospirillum sp. Bactrium to control and have good inhibition of Fusarium chlamydosporum fungus causing agent of decline date palm off-shoots and increasing plant growth in Iraq.