Isolation and Identification Causal Agent of Callistemon sp. Seedlings Root Rot

Abstract

Isolation and identification of the fungi which causes the root rot disease of Callistemon sp. trees in AL-Alaab city, Al-Zawra garden and Al-Jaderiia in Baghdad provinces reveled diagnosis of the following fungi: Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, F. moniliiforme, Rhizoctonia solani, Curvularia lunata, Cladosporiun herbarum, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Theilaviopsis, Mycelia sterilia, The frequency percentages of the isolated fungi from root and foliar system, in the three locations ranging from 10-60 % and the highest percentages were 60 % for F.solani in AL-Alaab city, 40 % in AL-Jadeeria as compared to other fungi. The percentage of the disease severities were 25, 10.4, 2.1, 0 % for R. solani, F. solani, C. lunata and Control, respectively. The seed germination percentages which treated with F. solani, R. solani, C. lunata were 20, 20, 90 %, respectively, and seedling damping-off percentages were 60, 20 and 10 % for the same fungi respectively and showed significant differences (p≤0.05) among treatments. This is the first record of the disease on Callistemon sp. trees in Iraq.