THE EFFECIENCY OF HENNA LEAVES EXTRACTS AND SOME FUNGICIDE TO REDUCE THE FUNGAL CONTAMINATION OF DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera L.) TISSUE CULTURES

Abstract

This study was included to identify the fungal contamination associatedwith callus tissue culture of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and the attemptto find the fittest methods to decrease it. The isolation and identification resultsof fungi explained the isolation of ten fungal genera. The fungus Asperillus nigerrecorded the highest percentage of frequency which was 16.8%, followed byPenicillium sp.1, while the frequency percentages 10,8,7 and 5% were recordedin Alternaria alternata ; Epicoccum sp.; Trichoderma harzianum and Nigrosporasp., respectively. The results proved the high antifungal activity of ethanolicHenna (Lawsonia inermis) leaves extracts on the radial growth inhibitorypercentage which was 85.15%, with significant difference than Methanolicextract (53.16%). The extract concentration 1% recorded the highestpercentage of inhibition (81.10%), also the results showed the failure grow ofEpicoccum sp. and Nigrospora sp. on the liquid media (PD Broth) which treatedwith ethanolic extract concentrations 0.5 and 1%. The lowest inhibitionpercentage (65.15%) of dry growth was recorded in T. harzianum atconcentration 0.5%. The results of fungicides (Benlate; Beltanol and Cryptanol)survey elucidated the high inhibitory efficiency of Benlate (1gm/L), which led toinhibite the growth of contaminated fungi on solid and liquid media completely.The results revealed that the fungicides Benlate (1gm/L) had no effect on thestudied parameters of embryogenic callus of date palm (Berhi and Ashkar cv.).The results of fresh, dry weight of embryogenic callus and the number ofsomatic embryoes had no significant difference than control. Also the treatmentof Benlate led to decrease the percentage of fungal contamination which was100% and reached 16.6% in Benlate, while the treatment of ethanolic Hennaleaves extract (0.5 and 1%) had a negative effect on the growth of callus (Berhiand Ashkar cv.). The fresh and dry weight of embryiogenic callus reducedsignificantly in the concentrations 0.5 and 1% in contrast with controltreatment results. The number of somatic embryoes was 4.16 in control,reduced significantly and reached 0.66 embryoes in conc. 0.5 and 1% ofethanolic extract.Key words: Date Palm, Henna, tissue culture, Phoenix dactylifera , fungal contamination