Goudarzi, A. (2023). Fusarium wilt disease of date palm. Plant Pathology Science, 12(1), 64-73.
Abstract
Fusarium wilt disease is known as one of the most destructive and fatal diseases of date trees in many date-producing areas of the world, especially date-producing countries in Africa. Currently, a significant portion of date orchards in Morocco and the western and central Sahara of Algeria are affected by Fusarium wilt disease. The economic losses caused by Fusarium wilt disease of dates, especially in the incidence of severe epidemics, are significant. Over the past century, the disease has killed more than 12 million palm trees in Morocco and about three million palm trees in Algeria. Fusarium oxysporum (Schltdl.) f. sp. albedinis, a soil-borne vascular pathogen, is known to cause Fusarium wilt disease of dates. The economic losses caused by this disease are very significant, especially in the incidence of severe epidemics, and in some areas, the Fusarium wilt epidemic has destroyed more than 70% of the date fruits. Integrated disease management strategies include the use of resistant or tolerant cultivars, prevention of introduction of the disease causal agent into disease-free areas, eradication of the disease, biological control and chemical control. This disease has not been reported from date-producing areas of Iran, although similar symptoms to Fusarium wilt have been observed in some date orchards of Hormozgan province.
