Inventory of Phytophthora palmivora Butler, mycoflora and arthropods in coconut leaf axil microhabitats
2004
Abad, R.G. | Ruiz, M.L.C., Philippines Univ. in Mindanao, Bago-Oshiro, Davao City (Philippines). Dept. of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies | Bachiller, N.SJ.
The presence of Phytophthora palmivora, fungi, and arthropods associated with organic matter in the leaf axil microhabitats of five healthy and four diseased palms was determined. P. palmivora was collected only from diseased palms sampled and none from the healthy palms. Fungi belonging to the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and 4 unidentified fungal isolates (A, B, C and D) were obtained, including Pestalotiopsis sp., a pathogen causing leaf spot, blight of coconut. The fungi isolated were initially tested for their antagonistic activity against P. palmivora, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. B and Penicillium sp. C showed high percentage IRG (Inhibition of Radial Growth) on P. palmivora isolates, with 54.6 percent, 48.7 percent and 48.7 percent, respectively. Nineteen families of arthropods were reckoned, ten of which were common to both healthy and diseased palms. Most of the arthropods inhabit moist and damp areas and consume dead plant materials, or are predators. It is surmised that some of these arthropods travel from the ground up to the crown to forage and find shelter in the leaf axils, with the likelihood that in the process, propagules of P. palmivora are carried to infection sites, where they may initiate pathogenesis.
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