Pathogenicity of (Botrydiplodia theobromae) Casual Pathogen of Pine apple Die Back

pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the most important commercial fruit crops in the world. It is a short herbaceous perennial plant which is available throughout the year. Dieback is an economically important disease known to cause major losses in food and tree crops. The causal pathogen of pineapple dieback was investigated in this study. Infected leaf and soil samples svere collected from the rhizosphere of the infected pineapple plant at National Horticultural Research Institute field for pathogen isolation. Pathogens isolated from diseased leaves were Botrydiplodia theobromae and Aspergillus niger while Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tamari. Botrydiplodia theobronzae and Fusarium verticilliodes were isolated from the rhizosphere of the infected pineapple plant. On infected leaf samples, B. theobromae had the highest occurrence (93.3%) while Aspergillus niger had the least occurrence (6.70/0). Similar trend was observed in the soil samples where B. theobromae had the highest occurrence of 80% while A. tamari and F. verticilliodes had the least frequency of occurrence of 4%. Result from pathogenicity test revealed that B. theobromae was the causal pathogen of pineapple dieback.