Mycobiology.  2004 Mar;32(1):35-41.

Kinds, Abundance and Pathogenicity of Pythium Species Isolated from Maize Rhizosphere of Various Habitats in El-Minia Governorate, Egypt

• Abdelzaher HMA
• Shoulkamy
• Yaser MM

Abstract

A total of 374 Pythium isolates were isolated and identified from the rhizosphere soils of maize plants grown in 100 different agricultural fields in nine provinces at El-Minia Governorate, Egypt. Five Pythium spp. of P. deliense, P. graminicola, P. irregulare, P. oligandrum and P. splendens were obtained P. deliense and P. oligandrum were predominant in all of the locations with 48.1% and 41.4% of total counts, respectively. P. graminicola, P. irregulare and P. splendens were not isolated in 4, 2 and 4 provinces out of 9 provinces with 5.3%, 3.5%, and 1.6% of isolation percentage from total counts, respectively. Number of Pythium isolates in each were 34, 31, 34, 33, 34, 96, 37, 37 and 38 out of 374, for locations of El-Edwa, Maghagha, Beni-Mazar, Matai, Samalout, El-Minia city, Abou-Querquas, Mallawi and Der Mawas, respectively. Pre- and post-emergence pathogenicity tests indicated that only P. deliense was highly pathogenic to germinating grains and seedlings of maize whereas P. oligandrum was non-pathogenic.

Keyword

Egypt; Maize; Pythium deliense; Pythium oligandrum; Rhizospere soil

MeSH Terms

Edible Grain
Ecosystem*
Egypt*
Pythium*
Rhizosphere*
Seedlings
Soil
Virulence*
Zea mays*
Soil