Yellow Death: A Disease of Date Palm in Iran Caused by Fusarium solani

In December 2003, a severe general yellowing and death of the fronds of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) occurred in a grove in the vicinity of Kazeron district, west of Fars province, Iran. Fusarium solani was isolated from the crown, and xylem rays sampled from the trunk 1.5 m above soil level. In pathogenicity tests using artificially infested soil and 1-year-old date palm seedlings, an isolate from the trunk (FST) induced general chlorosis and death of seedlings 25–28 days after inoculation. Similar results were obtained when seedlings were planted in naturally infested soil. In both procedures, distal portions of the roots and crown were affected. The fungus was re-isolated from the crown and leaf bases of the inoculated seedlings. This is the first report of a serious disease of date palm, which we call yellow death, incited by F. solani in Iran.