Host range of Phytophthora palmivora in Arecaceae family crops

Abstract

Phytophthora palmivora is a well-known pathogen and it has been reported on different host plants such as coconut, black pepper, rubber, cocoa, durian, papaya, apple, areca nut and different ornamental palms. The ability of P. palmivora to infect various plant parts in a wide range of hosts is a major threat to the future global spread and epidemic. The disease caused by P. palmivora is recognized by the initial symptoms on the central shoot, followed by the browning or blackening of the heart leaf, indicates a significant problem. The present study, host range of Phytophthora palmivora was carried out on nine different plants of Arecaceae family. For this study, pathogen was isolated from naturally infected coconut bud displaying typical symptoms of bud rot disease and the pathogenicity was tested on two seedlings of each type of host plant, one was kept for control and other for testing host range of pathogen. Study revealed certain symptoms on host plants like brown spots on young leaves, rotting and foul smell of bud, and finally leaves were totally dried and drooped down. These symptoms were similar to that of Phytophthora palmivora.