The Effect of the Extract from the Different Growth Stages of the Fungus Ganoderma lucidium on the Infection of Three Watermelon Varieties with Watermelon mosaic virus

Sultan, Y.B. and M.A. Alfahad. 2024. The Effect of the Extract from the Different Growth Stages of the Fungus Ganoderma lucidium on the Infection of Three Watermelon Varieties with Watermelon mosaic virus. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(4): 545-551. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001273 This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ganoderma lucidium extract on Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) infection of watermelon plants. Virus diagnosis was based on the symptoms produced on indicator plants, in addition to using the immunostrip assay. The treatment with the extract of G. lucidium mixture (mycelium + fruiting body) reduced WMV infection rate on all three watermelon cultivars, and was superior to all other treatments. The G. lucidium mixture extract was also superior in reducing the severity of WMV infection. The same treatment gave a significant increase in chlorophyll content, leaf area and specific activity of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, in addition to the increase in crop yield. Keywords: Watermelon mosaic virus, diagnosis, control, fungal extract