Reactions of Oil Palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq) Progenies to Fusarium Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Elaeidis under Natural Infection

Abstract

The oil palm ( Elaeisguineensis Jacq) is used worldwide in commercial agriculture for the production of palm oil, palm kernel oil and palm wine. It produces more oil per plant than any other oil-producing crop in the world. Production is constrained by several factors among which pests/diseases are of utmost importance. Vascular wilt (VW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum is the most devastating disease infecting this crop. Its soil-borne ecology has made the use of fungicides to manage this disease too expensive and inpragmatic. There is need for concerted research in the breeding and selection of wilt-tolerant progenies as an essential step in the management of Fusarium wilt disease. The study aims to assess the incidence and severity of vascular wilt among tested oil palm progenies, to evaluate the reduction in yield caused by the disease in the susceptible progenies and to identify the wilt-tolerant, high-yielding progenies. The study was carried out at Pamol Plantations Limited (PPL) in Ndian Estate (Ndian Division), in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Three field trials were evaluated for tolerance/susceptibility to Fusarium wilt. Each trial consisted of 15 oil palm progenies replicated 4 times. Each progeny had 25 oil palm stands in each replicate. Hence, a total of 1500 oil palm stands were assessed. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCB) with trial codes: Trial 2001/1, planted in 2001; Trial 2001/2, planted in 2002; Trial 2001/3, planted in 2003. Each trail had an area of 12 ha, with a plant density of 143 palms·ha −1 . Wilt incidence, severity, index, and yield were evaluated on 45 progenies from the 3 trails after identifying Fusarium oxysporum from oil palm plant part. Data was subjected to analysis of variance, Fischer’s least significant difference test (LSD) for mean separation. Identification of Fusarium was based on descriptive analysis. Incidence of VW in the 3 trials ranged from 1% - 39%. Also, 45% of infected plants were from progeny 676 while 1% was from progenies 689, 693, 694 and 710. Disease severity was from 0.9 in progeny 686 to 4.55 in 676. Wilt index ranged from 131 for progeny 694 and 710 to 495 for progenies 705. Out of the 45 progenies evaluated, 27 were tolerant (1 < 100) and 18 susceptible (1 ≥ 100). Within the tolerant progenies, 4 were significant (1 < 20) while 5 out of 18 were significantly susceptible (1 ≥ 185). Mean yield reduction of the susceptible progenies was 34.8% while in the tolerant progenies, it increased by 9.5% when compared to their controls. Progenies 702, 703 and 709 are recommended for planting based on the level of tolerance to Fusarium wilt disease and yield.