FIRST REPORT OF Fusarium solani CAUSING DAMPING-OFF DISEASE ON Tetraclinis articulata SEEDLINGS

In north-western Morocco, damping-off diseases symptoms are often observed on 3-4 weeks Tetraclinis articulata containerised seedlings in forest nurseries. A survey was done to this species in Sidi Amira forest nursery revealed a mortality rate ranging between 4 to 13%. Fusarium solani was isolated from diseased plants with the percentage of 68%. Pregerminated seeds were inoculated with inoculum solution for 3 hours and sown in 400 ml plastic containers filled with a (3:1,v,v) mixture of peat/vermiculite. After 4 weeks, pre-emergence, post-emergence, root rot, stem necrosis and foliage chlorosis were observed in all containers with inoculated seedlings while control sets remained asymptomatic. Koch’s postulate was verified by reisolating F. Solani from roots, hypocotyl and epicotyl of the inoculated seedlings. Pathogenicity test revealed that preemergence, post emergence mortality rate; disease index and growth parameters were significantly different comparing to control.