Fusarium Solani Associated With Dieback Disease of Argan Trees in Nurseries (Morocco)

Abstract

The expansion of argan cultivation may experience problems related to fungal diseases generated by several pathogens. Fusarium genus is known to have a board range of hosts. One of them is Fusarium solani. This species was retrieved from argan seedlings growing in 2023 in a nursery of argan plants located in southwestern Morocco and showing collapsing symptoms. The postulate of Koch was studied using inoculation method by Fusarium solani isolated from diseased plants. After 8 to 10 weeks, all inoculated plants showed necrosis symptoms in stems, root rot and even loss of vegetative parts while no symptoms were observed in the control plants. The pathogen was successfully reisolated from symptomatic plants both at roots or above-ground plant parts with a percentage re-isolation in the order of 80%. Furthermore, the root system was the site point of the fungal attack induced by F. solani targeting plant radicles. Accordingly, damage the potential capacity of roots to ensure mineral nutrients and water uptake have been affected.