FREQUENCY OF MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH SHISHAM (Dalbergia sissoo) DECLINE IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) is a very famous agroforestry tree but in previous years Shisham dieback disease has caused high mortality in standing Shisham trees. Objective of this study was to investigate fungal pathogens that cause decline in Shisham trees. Contaminated samples including roots, bark from neck portion, stem, branches, leaves and infected soils were collected for the isolation of associated fungal pathogens. Isolations were made on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and on Czapek dox agar media. Identification of isolated fungi was done microscopically. The most frequently isolated fungus from Shisham tree was Botryodiplodia theobromae from roots, stem, bark, and twigs. R. solani was more frequent with leaves than B. theobromae. Fusarium oxysporum from the stem was the second most frequent fungus after B. theobromae. However, F. oxysporum was less frequently isolated from the root parts of Shisham. The study revealed that B. theobromae was the most isolated fungus and can be a major cause of shisham decline.