Chapter 16 - Oil palm tree diseases

Abstract

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq.) is ranked as the highest yielding oil crop per unit area in contrast to other primary oil crops. The oil palm industry has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the producing regions and reduced rural poverty. The introduction of oil palm into new areas often has not fared well. Exposure to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions predisposes oil palm to range of pests, diseases, and disorders that can affect seeds, seedlings, and mature palms. Oil palm diseases of major economic significance in different regions of the world include bud rot in South America caused by Phytophthora palmivora, vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis in West Africa together with blast disease and Thielaviopsis diseases causing black seed rot, dry basal rot, and neck bending/inclination of the upper region of the palm. In Southeast Asia, basal and upper stem rots caused by Ganoderma species are the major diseases of economic significance. This chapter highlights the identification, the associated epidemiology, and the available control measures for oil palm diseases. Moreover, the chapter outlines the management of these diseases through good agronomic practices, the ongoing research efforts to mitigate the impact of these diseases on yield loss, and the sustainable development of oil palm cultivation.