FIRST REPORT OF THE LIGNIVOROUS FUNGUS PAECILOMYCES MAXIMUS IN CEDRUS ATLANTICA M. IN MOROCCO

This study is interested in isolating fungi from the wood parts of cedar trunks withered and identifying these lignivorous fungi. A sample was isolated from the cedar grove of Tazekka National Park located south of the city of Taza in Morocco. The culture and purification of the isolated fungus were done on a water agar medium and then on a PDA medium. After the purification of the fungus, a morphological study by scanning electron microscope allowed us to identify the pathogen Paecilomyces. A molecular characterization identified Paecilomyces maximus with a coverage percentage of 99% and an identity of 98.77%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. maximus in decayed cedar wood.