First record and preliminary evaluation of Mucor hiemalis as biocontrol agent on inflorescence brown rot incidence of date palm

In Egypt, inflorescence brown rot disease of date plam trees caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa De Syenes causing high losses of pollen grains and fruits yield productivity. Infection occurs early on spathes even when it still hidden in the leaf bases. White mycelium of pathogenic fungi grows on inflorescence then turned to brown when fungus spores abundant. Isolation trails from diseased spathes showed brown rot, yielded three genus of fungal i.e. Aspergillus niger (25%), Mucor hiemalis (25%) and T. paradoxa (50%). Pathogenicity test by using fungal isolates and male inflorescence of data indicate that, all isolates of T. paradoxa were able to induce brown rot of inflorescence. Isolates of T. paradoxa were differed in pathogenic activity for producing inflorescence brown rot symptom. Also, A. niger isolate could cause slightly decay on inflorescence. Meanwhile, all isolates of M. hiemalis recorded as non pathogenic. In vitro, dual culture technique by using M. hiemalis showed antagonistic properties agains...