Vascular wilt disease caused by Foe (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis) invades the host xylem and causes a devastating disease of oil palm in west and central Africa. This disease has not been reported in Southeas...Vascular wilt disease caused by Foe (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis) invades the host xylem and causes a devastating disease of oil palm in west and central Africa. This disease has not been reported in Southeast Asia, in spite of long term importation for breeding purposes of African seed and pollen, shown in this laboratory at the University of Bath to be contaminated with Foe disease epidemiology was recently studied in plantations in Ghana. Infection mainly occurred in clusters, implying root-root transmission rather than aerial spread by spores. Molecular diagnostic tools has being developed for: (1) rapid detection and quantification of Foe in plant tissue, soil, seed and pollen for quarantine purposes in order to prevent transcontinental spread of Foe; and (2) to test efficacy of putative disease resistant or tolerant palm genotypes. We have investigated the possibility of Foe-suppressive soils in Malaysia in order to explain the non-appearance of this vascular disease there and possibly to reveal other potential biocontrol agents. The explanation as to why Malaysia has not yet attained the disease is likely to revolve around the soil properties, in particular the microflora. This review reported that greater disease severity based on visual symptoms occurred in autoclaved soils and compost than in untreated soils when oil palm seedlings artificially infected with Foe.展开更多
文摘Vascular wilt disease caused by Foe (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis) invades the host xylem and causes a devastating disease of oil palm in west and central Africa. This disease has not been reported in Southeast Asia, in spite of long term importation for breeding purposes of African seed and pollen, shown in this laboratory at the University of Bath to be contaminated with Foe disease epidemiology was recently studied in plantations in Ghana. Infection mainly occurred in clusters, implying root-root transmission rather than aerial spread by spores. Molecular diagnostic tools has being developed for: (1) rapid detection and quantification of Foe in plant tissue, soil, seed and pollen for quarantine purposes in order to prevent transcontinental spread of Foe; and (2) to test efficacy of putative disease resistant or tolerant palm genotypes. We have investigated the possibility of Foe-suppressive soils in Malaysia in order to explain the non-appearance of this vascular disease there and possibly to reveal other potential biocontrol agents. The explanation as to why Malaysia has not yet attained the disease is likely to revolve around the soil properties, in particular the microflora. This review reported that greater disease severity based on visual symptoms occurred in autoclaved soils and compost than in untreated soils when oil palm seedlings artificially infected with Foe.