Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2003

The presence of Phytophthora palmivora, fungi, and arthropods associated with organic matter in the leaf axil microhabitats of five healthy and four diseased palms was determined. P. palmivora was collected monly from diseased palms sampled and none from the healthy palms. Fungi belonging to the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and four unidentified fungal isolates (A, B, C, and D) were isolated, including Pestalotiopsis sp., a pathogen causing leaf spot/blight of coconut. The fungi isolated were initially tested for their antagonistic activity against P. palmivora. Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. B and Penicillium sp. C showed high % IRG (Inhibition of Radical Growth) on P. palmivora isolates with 54.6%, and 48.7% and 48.7%, respectively. Nineteen families of arthropods were reckoned, ten (10) of which were common to both healthy and diseased palms. Most of the arthropods inhabit moist and damp areas and consume dead plant materials, or are predators. It is surmised that some of these arthropods travel from the ground up to the crown to forage for food and find shelter in the leaf axils, with the likelihood that in the process, propagules of P. palmivora are carried to infection sits, where they can start pathogenesis