NUTRIENT COMPETITION BETWEEN SOIL-BORNE FUSARIUM DRIVE ANTAGONISM AGAINST Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, THE CAUSAL AGENT OF BAYOUD DISEASE ON DATE PALM

Date palm vascular disease known as Bayoud, incited by the soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), poses a significant obstacle to the development of date industry in Morocco. A large body of research has focused on understanding the biology of this parasite and its interactions with the host. However, little is known about the relationship of nutritional competition among soilborne microbes and their antagonistic effects against Foa. In this investigation, we determined nutritional use profiles of saprophytic Fusaria in three soils using Biolog SF-P2 plates and assessed their inhibitory effects on Foa in vitro The results revealed a significant correlation between the intensity of trophic competition among soil Fusaria and their inhibition of Foa. These findings suggest that management strategies of soil microbial communities that result in heightened nutrient competition may provide novel approach for controlling Bayoud disease in Moroccan oases.