Abstract

Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera.L) is locally known as
Khajoor is a flowering plantspecies belongs to the family
Arecaceae. Dates have high nutritive value containing sugar,
proteins, fibers, potassium, Iron and thiamine. They have
high medicinal value andare used as a carminative, general
tonic, aphrodisiac,antacid and for treating backache.Pakistan
is the fifth largest producer of dates with 680107 tons in
2016/17. Theproduction of Dates is adversely effected by
climatic factors and diseases like Fruit rot,Omphalia root rot,
Brown leaf spot, Bending Head, Sudden decline etc, among
thesegraphiola leaf spot disease which is caused by
Graphiola phoenicis is also effectproduction and growth of
date palm. The aim of the present study was to find out
theprevalence of false smut of date palm in study area. 3-5
sights were selected in each district and 50 plants were
randomly selected, the incidence was determined by the
formula, no of infected plants/ total no of plants×100, and
Prevalence was determined byformula, no of infected sights/
total no of sights×100.Morphologicaland molecularidentification
were also done in order to confirm the pathogen (Graphiola
phoenicis) of the concern disease. It was observed that that
Graphiola phoenicis was the causative organism for the false
smut of date palm observed in southern districts of
KhyberPakhthunkwa and false smut disease is adversely affect
growth and production of date palm in southern districts.