Abstract

The mycoflora associated with tip-rot disease of Aloe vera (Syn, Aloe barbadensis Miller) and their pathogenicity was investigated in Abraka, Delta State. Fungi associated with diseased plants were isolated and identified as Mucor hiemalis, Fusarium oxysporium, Pestalotia psidii, Cladosporium herbarum and Heteropatella alpina, with occurrences by 46.22, 20.17, 13.45, 10.92 and 9.24%, respectively. Except M. hiemalis, all these fungi were pathogenic to A. vera and caused mild to severe symptom 14 days after artificial inoculation on healthy plants with mycelia fragments of the fungi. F. oxysporium and P. psidii were more aggressive in symptom induction than the other fungi. The significance of these findings has great implication on the reduction of aesthetic and therapeutic values ofA. vera plant.

Key words: Pathogenicity, mycoflora, tip-rot disease, Aloe vera.