Effect of Mycorhization and Compost on the Growth and the Protection of Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Against Bayoud Disease

In the present study, mycorhization and the use of compost (by-products of the date palm) have been shown to protect date palm seedlings against bayoud disease. Treatment with Glomus intraradices showed that the mycorhization improves the growth of the date palm seedlings from approximately 26%. The presence of the pathogenic agent Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis (Foa) caused a fall of biomass of 82,5% with a death rate of 100% whereas the presence of mycorhizae caused a drop in this rate mortality to 55%. Also the addition of the compost to peat (V/V) does not have a notable influence on the growth of the seedlings; on the other hand, it showed a significant protective effect (55,5%) compared to the all alone peat against the invasion of pathogenic fungi (Foa). The mycorhization seems to have a positive effect under these conditions. The compost as substrate supports well the growth of the seedlings but does not seem to improve it by comparing it with the peat and the presence of mycorhizae and does not have any effect. However, the compost protects the seedlings against the attack from Foa and the mycorhization seems to amplify of 27% this protection.