Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis and Its Biosecurity Threat to Oil Palm-Producing Countries

The most damaging disease of oil palm is Fusarium wilt caused by a soilborne fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis (Foe). The disease is endemic to Africa and affects oil palm production there. Limited Fusarium wilt outbreaks have occurred in South America, but the disease has not yet been reported in South-East Asia. An earlier review of Foe in 2006 provided updates on symptoms, spread and the difficulty in managing the disease. This paper updates our knowledge of oil palm, socio-economic and environmental impacts of cultivation, Fusarium wilt disease epidemiology, Foe detection techniques, disease management strategies and biosecurity perspectives. Breeding for tolerant plant materials has significantly advanced in Africa, but financial constraints in several countries have limited the production of tolerant oil palm seed materials. Other emerging technologies for Foe control are also presented here, acknowledging the specific challenges to help inform the oil palm industry. We highlight the need to strengthen biosecurity plans in disease-free regions. In these countries/regions that are currently free from the pathogen but cultivating susceptible plant materials, biosecurity protocols are essential to reduce threat of disease introduction and spread. Climatic change is another challenge for oil palm-producing countries, both those currently free from the disease and those where Foe is endemic, and should be taken into consideration when planning and implementing biosecurity measures.