Vascular Wilt Disease of Oil Palms in Nigeria

Abstract

IN 1946, I observed and diagnosed a vascular wilt disease of oil pakns (Elceis guineensis) in the Belgian Congo, a strain of Fusarium oxysporum being consistently associated with the necrosed wood vessels^1,2. An investigation in 1947 of diseased oil palms in various Nigerian plantations by Messrs. S. de Blank and F. Ferguson, of the United Africa Co., led them to the conclusion (private report) that vascular wilt disease was also present in Nigeria. Cultures which they submitted to me for identification consisted of strains of F. oxysporum very similar to those which I obtained in the Belgian Congo. During the present year, in an inspection of oil palm plantations in Nigeria, I obtained full confirmation of the presence of vascular wilt disease. Some plantation areas show how severe this disease can be, many 8–12 years old palms being killed off, together with the younger replacements. An important addition to our knowledge is that infected vascular strands can be observed in seedlings 18–24 months old : from these, Fusarium oxysporum and other species of Fusarium have been isolated. This fact may materially shorten the programme of breeding resistant varieties.