Antagonistic Effects of Trichoderma harzianum Isolates against Ceratocystis radicicola: pioneering a Biocontrol Strategy against Black Scorch Disease in Date Palm Trees

Date palm is an important subsistence crop in arid regions due to its ability to grow under adverse environmental conditions such as high temperature, salinity and drought. Nevertheless, ideal conditions for its growth and production are also favourable to fungal diseases such as black scorch disease caused by Ceratocystis radicicola. The aim of this study was to develop a method of biological control through the isolation, identification and examination of the effectiveness of bioagents in controlling black scorch disease. Twenty-five isolates of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy date palm trees and morphological, microscopic and molecular approaches confirmed the identity of 11 isolates as Trichoderma harzianum species complex (THSC). In vivo study, application of both spore suspension and culture filtrates of T. harzianum decreased the size of necroses caused by C. radicicola. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed lysis of the hyphal pathogen and phialoconidia along with scattered aleurioconidia. Results from the volatile metabolic assay and SEM suggested potential roles of cell wall degradation enzymes and volatile substances produced by T. harzianum as two collective mechanisms leading to degrade the cell wall of the pathogen and inhibit fungal growth. Altogether, results from our study demonstrated the efficacy and utility of using bioagents to control black scorch disease which could improve date palm yield.

This research was made possible by a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) under National Priorities Research Program (NPRP-5-1002-4-010). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the QNRF. The authors would like to thank laboratory technicians in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University for their technical support.

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