Detection of the Enzymes and Toxins Produced by the Pathogenic Fungi that Cause Chias Pollen Disease on Different Date Palm Cultivars in Iraq

Abstract

Mohamed, Kh.A. and M.A. Alfahd. 2023. Detection of the Enzymes and Toxins Produced by the Pathogenic Fungi that Cause Chias Pollen Disease on Different Date Palm Cultivars in Iraq. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(1): 65-70. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.1.065070 This study aimed to determine the exo-enzyme activity of some inflorescence-rot causing fungi that were isolated from different date palm cultivars such as Mauginiella scaettae, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporium and Alternaria radicina and their ability to produce protease and cellulase enzymes on Czapek dox (CD) liquid media supplemented with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), as well as their ability to produce Fumonisin B1 toxin using the enzyme linked immunoassay assay (ELISA). The results obtained showed a discrepancy in the amount of enzymes and toxins produced by these pathogens. The fungus F. oxysporum produced the highest cellulase enzyme activity, which amounted to 1.1933 units/ml, whereas Alternaria radicina produced the highest protease enzyme activity which amounted to 50,964 units/ml. The pathogen M. scaettae produced the highest toxin concentration of 38.465 µg/kg, whereas the pathogen Fusarium solani did not produce this toxin. Keywords: Mauginiella. Scaettae, enzymes, fumonisin B1, toxins.