First report of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis causing Fusarium wilt on Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Hort. Ex Chabaud) in China

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Hort. Ex Chabaud) is a signature palm planted in New Orleans, LA. Currently, the city has approximately 1,000 mature Canary Island date palms. During the fall of 2009, 153 palms were inspected with 27 palms exhibiting typical symptoms of Fusarium wilt. Symptoms included one-sided death and a reddish brown streak on the rachis of affected fronds and death of the leaflets. Longitudinal sections of affected fronds showed vascular discoloration. Severely infected palms were completely dead. Small pieces of diseased tissue from five palms were surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite (0.6%) for 2 to 3 min, then rinsed in sterile distilled water, blotted dry, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal colonies on PDA produced a purple pigment, and both macro- and microconidia that are typical of Fusarium oxysporum were observed under a light microscope. A single-spore culture of isolate PDC-4701 was obtained. DNA from this isolate was extracted with a DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA) and primers ef1 and ef2 were used to amplify and sequence the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (2). NCBI BLAST analysis of the 616-bp sequence resulted in 100% identity with F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis isolates PLM-385B from Texas and PLM-511A from South Carolina (GenBank Accession Nos. HM 591538 and HM 591537, respectively). Isolate PDC-4701, grown on PDA for 2 weeks, was used to inoculate 10 9-month-old P. canariensis seedlings. An 18-gauge needle was used to inject 15 ml of a 107 conidia/ml suspension into the stem near the soil line. Each seedling was inoculated at two locations and covered with Parafilm at the inoculation sites. Ten control seedlings were injected with sterile distilled water in the same manner. Inoculated and control seedlings were maintained in a greenhouse at 28 ± 2°C. Leaves of all 10 inoculated seedlings started to wilt 3 months after inoculation. Internal vascular discoloration was observed and the pathogen was reisolated from the symptomatic seedlings. No symptoms developed on any of the 10 control seedlings. On the basis of morphology and DNA sequence data, this pathogen is identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis. Fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm has been previously reported from California, Florida, Nevada, Texas, and South Carolina (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis in Louisiana, extending its geographic range. The disease may adversely affect the tradition of planting Canary Island date palms in New Orleans. The sequence of isolate PDC-4701 has been submitted to the NCBI database (GenBank Accession No. JF826442) and a culture specimen has been deposited in the Fusarium Research Center culture collection (Accession No. O-2602) at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. References: (1) M. L. Elliott et al. Plant Dis. 95:356, 2011. (2) D. M. Geiser et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473, 2004.

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First Report of Fusarium Wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. palmarum on Canary Island Date Palm in Florida

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-11-10-0851 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 356-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. L. Elliott

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Vascular Tissue ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Single Spore ◽

Commercial Property ◽

First Report

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Chabaud) is an ornamental grown throughout the world. In the fall of 2009, a single plant of this species was observed with Fusarium wilt symptoms at a commercial property in Orlando, FL. Individual leaves had chlorotic or necrotic leaflets on one side of the leaf blade and a reddish brown stripe along the petiole and rachis. Petiole cross-sections exhibited discolored vascular tissue. Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from this tissue, with typical characteristics of macroconidia in pale orange sporodochia, microconidia in false heads on short monophialides, and chlamydospores (3). All colonies on potato dextrose agar had pale pinkish-salmon-colored mycelia. Macroconidia were mostly 3-septate, slightly curved, and ranged from 4.1 to 4.6 × 39.5 to 43.7 μm. Microconidia were unicellular, oval to reniform, and ranged from 3.1 to 3.3 × 7.1 to 7.5 μm. Single-spore isolates (PLM-509 and PLM-510A) were selected for molecular characterization, with PCR conducted using ef1 and ef2 primers (2). Resulting products were sequenced and queried for similarity against the NCBI and the FUSARIUM-ID databases (2) using BLAST. In both databases, the isolates did not match F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis. Rather, the isolates matched F. oxysporum f. sp. palmarum, and of particular interest, were NRRL 46589 (GenBank Accession No. GQ154456) and NRRL 46592 (GenBank Accession No. GQ154468), which the isolates matched with 100% similarity. These NRRL isolates were from the same commercial property but different locations on the property as this Canary Island date palm (1). Prior to this identification, F. oxysporum f. sp. palmarum had only been associated with Fusarium wilt of queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) in Florida (1). Furthermore, in September 2008, two of four Mexican fan palms in a concrete planter (not in the ground) at the same location as the diseased Canary Island date palm (in the ground) were symptomatic for Fusarium wilt and the pathogen was confirmed as F. oxysporum f. sp. palmarum. Therefore, pathogenicity studies were conducted on three-leaf seedlings of P. canariensis and W. robusta using PLM-510A. There were five replicate palms per isolate and control treatment, and they were inoculated by the same methodology used previously for seedlings (1). After 3 months, all inoculated W. robusta were dead and one of five inoculated P. canariensis was dead. After 6 months, three more P. canariensis had died for a total of four of five inoculated palms. The pathogen was reisolated from diseased palms of both species. All control palms remained healthy. The sequence for PLM-510A has been deposited in the NCBI database (GenBank Accession No. HQ727681). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. palmarum. References: (1) M. L. Elliott et al. Plant Dis. 94:31, 2010. (2) D. M. Geiser et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473, 2004. (3) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA, 2006.

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Emerging Palm Diseases in Florida

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/hortsci.19.4.717 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 717-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Monica L. Elliott

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Phoenix Canariensis ◽

Sabal Palmetto ◽

Palm Species ◽

Lethal Yellowing ◽

Syagrus Romanzoffiana ◽

Cabbage Palm

Since the mid-1990s, several new pathogens and diseases have emerged on palms (Arecaceae) growing in Florida. These include two formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum, with f. sp. canariensis causing fusarium wilt of canary island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and a new forma specialis causing Fusarium wilt of queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta). The texas phoenix palm decline phytoplasma (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’ subgroup 16SrIV-D), which causes a lethal yellowing-type disease, has been detected in date palms (Phoenix spp.), queen palm, and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). New rachis (petiole) blight pathogens include Cocoicola californica on mexican fan palm and Serenomyces species on several palm species.

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First Report of Fusarium Wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis on Canary Island Date Palm in Texas and South Carolina

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-11-10-0777 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 358-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. L. Elliott ◽

E. Honeycutt ◽

J. West ◽

P. Franklin

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

The United States ◽

Control Treatment ◽

First Report ◽

Home Site ◽

Initial Symptoms

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) is native to the Canary Islands and widely grown throughout the world as an ornamental. At a home site in Austin, TX in May 2008 and a commercial site near Charleston, SC in December 2009, declining Canary Island date palms were observed. Symptoms included individual leaves with chlorotic or necrotic leaflets on one side of the leaf blade (one-sided wilt or death) and a distinct reddish brown stripe along the petiole and rachis. Cross-sections through the petiole or rachis exhibited discoloration of internal tissue. Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from the internal petiole or rachis tissue of each palm sample onto one-quarter-strength potato dextrose agar (PDA). Typical macroconidia in pale orange sporodochia, microconidia in false heads on short monophialides, and chlamydospores were observed (2). Macroconidia were mostly 3-septate, slightly curved, and ranged from 3.8 to 4.2 × 42.9 to 46.5 μm. Microconidia were single cell, oval to reniform, and ranged from 2.5 to 2.9 × 7.2 to 7.8 μm. Single-spore isolates grown on full-strength PDA (12-h light and 26°C) produced abundant white-to-pale lavender mycelia with a purple pigment in the agar. One isolate from each location (PLM-385B from Texas and PLM-511A from South Carolina) was selected for pathogenicity tests and molecular characterization. The translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF-1α) was amplified in each isolate by PCR using the ef1 and ef2 primers (1). Products were sequenced and queried for similarity against the NCBI database and the FUSARIUM-ID database ( http://isolate.fusariumdb.org/index.php ) (1) using the BLAST search tool. In both databases, both isolates matched F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis strain NRRL 26035 (GenBank Accession No. AF008485; FD_01211) at 100% sequence similarity. Sequences for PLM-385B and PLM-511A have been deposited in the NCBI database (GenBank Accession Nos. HM591537 and HM591538, respectively). Pathogenicity of these two isolates was tested on three-leaf Canary Island date palm seedlings. There were five replicate palms per isolate and control treatment. All potting mix was shaken from the roots and three groups of five seedlings were placed in small buckets. Twenty-five milliliters of a 106 conidia ml–1 suspension was pipetted down among the leaf bases and the excess drained onto the roots. Control palms received sterile water. Seedlings were covered with plastic for 48 h and then transplanted into separate growing containers. Ten weeks after inoculation, initial symptoms of a leaf wilt (off-color and folded over) were observed on some of the inoculated palms. After 4 months, all palms inoculated with PLM-511A were dead and three of the five palms inoculated with PLM-385B were dead. The pathogen was reisolated from diseased palms. All five control palms remained healthy. While the symptomatic palm in Texas had been in the home site approximately 2 years, which implied the palm could have been already infected when transplanted, the palm in South Carolina had been planted in 1990. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm in Texas and South Carolina. Previously in the United States, the disease had only been noted in California, Florida, and Nevada. References: (1) D. M. Geiser et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473, 2004. (2) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA, 2006.

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Fusarium Wilt of Canary Island Date Palm

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-pp139-2006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2006 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Monica L. Elliott

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathology ◽

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Publication Date ◽

Original Publication ◽

Primary Host ◽

Phoenix Canariensis ◽

The U.S

Unlike most fungal diseases of palms, this disease is very host specific, with the primary host being Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm). It is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis. The name “Fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm” was given to this disease to distinguish it from two other Fusarium wilt diseases that occur on palms, which are also very host specific. In Florida (and the U.S.), the name is often shortened to simply “Fusarium wilt.” This document is PP-215, one of a series of the Plant Pathology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2006. PP-215/PP139: Fusarium Wilt of Canary Island Date Palm (ufl.edu)

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Rapid Detection of the Fusarium oxysporum Lineage Containing the Canary Island Date Palm Wilt Pathogen

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.1999.89.5.407 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 89 (5) ◽

pp. 407-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

T. R. Plyler ◽

G. W. Simone ◽

D. Fernandez ◽

H. C. Kistler

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Genomic Library ◽

Extraction Procedure ◽

Correct Identification ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Phoenix Canariensis ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Partial Genomic Library

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis causes Fusarium wilt disease on the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis). To facilitate disease management, a polymerase chain reaction diagnostic method has been developed to rapidly detect the pathogen. A partial genomic library of F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis isolate 95-913 was used to identify a DNA sequence diagnostic for a lineage containing all tested isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis. Two oligonucleotide primers were designed and used to amplify a 567-bp fragment with F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis DNAs. DNA from 61 outgroup isolates did not amplify using these primers. Once the primers were shown to amplify a 0.567-kb fragment from DNA of all the F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis isolates tested, a rapid DNA extraction procedure was developed that led to the correct identification of 98% of the tested F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis isolates.

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First Report of Bud Rot of Canary Island Date Palm Caused by Phytophthora palmivora in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-91-8-1059a ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 91 (8) ◽

pp. 1059-1059

Author(s):

A. Pane ◽

C. Allatta ◽

G. Sammarco ◽

S. O. Cacciola

Keyword(s):

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Brown Rot ◽

Selective Medium ◽

Phytophthora Species ◽

Phytophthora Palmivora ◽

American Phytopathological Society ◽

First Report ◽

Phoenix Canariensis ◽

Electrophoretic Patterns

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud) is planted as an ornamental in Mediterranean climatic regions of the world. From 2004 to 2006, withering of the spear leaf was observed on screenhouse-grown potted plants of this palm in Sicily (Italy). The first symptom was a dark brown rot that extended from the petiole base of the spear to the adjacent youngest leaves and killed the bud. Dissection of plants revealed a foul-smelling internal rot. After the bud died, external older leaves remained green for months. As much as 10% of plants in a single nursery were affected. A Phytophthora species was consistently isolated from symptomatic plants on BNPRAH selective medium (4). Single zoospore isolates were obtained from the colonies. The species isolated was identified as Phytophthora palmivora (E. J. Butler) E. J. Butler on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (3). On V8 juice agar, the isolates produced elliptical to ovoid, papillate sporangia (33 to 77 × 22 to 38 μm) with a mean length/breadth ratio of 1.8. Sporangia were caducous with a short pedicel (mean pedicel length = 5 μm) and had a conspicuous basal plug. All isolates were heterothallic and produced amphigynous antheridia, oogonia, and oospores when paired with reference isolates of P. nicotianae and P. palmivora of the A2 mating type. The oogonium wall was smooth. Identification was confirmed by electrophoresis of mycelial proteins in polyacrylamide slab gels (1). The electrophoretic patterns of total mycelial proteins and four isozymes (alkaline phosphatase, esterase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase of the isolates) from Phoenix canariensis were identical to those of P. palmivora reference isolates, including four Italian ones, two from pittosporum and olive, respectively, and two (IMI 390579 and 390580) from Grevillea spp. Phoenix canariensis isolates were clearly distinct from those of other heterothallic papillate species including P. capsici, P. citrophthora, P. katsurae, P. nicotianae, and P. tropicalis. Pathogenicity of one isolate from Phoenix canariensis (IMI 395345) was tested on 10 2-year-old potted Canary Island date palm plants. An aqueous 105 zoospores per ml suspension (200 μl) was pipetted onto unwounded petiole bases of the three youngest central leaves of each plant. Sterile water was pipetted onto 10 control plants. All plants were incubated in 100% humidity at 24°C for 48 h and maintained in a greenhouse at 20 to 28°C. Within 3 weeks after inoculation, inoculated plants developed symptoms identical to those observed on plants with natural infections. Control plants remained healthy. P. palmivora was reisolated from symptomatic plants. Phytophthora bud rot is a common palm disease worldwide and Phoenix canariensis is reported as a host (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Phytophthora bud rot on Phoenix canariensis in Italy. References: (1) S. O. Cacciola et al. EPPO Bull. 20:47, 1990. (2) M. L. Elliot et al., eds. Compendium of Ornamental Palm Diseases and Disorders. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2004. (3) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (4) H. Masago et al. Phytopathology, 67:425, 1977.

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Differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum isolates from Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) by vegetative compatibility grouping and molecular analysis

Australasian Plant Pathology ◽

10.1071/ap02039 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 351 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

L. V. Gunn ◽

B. A. Summerell

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Molecular Analysis ◽

Canary Island ◽

Date Palm ◽

Vegetative Compatibility ◽

Phoenix Canariensis

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First Report of Fusarium Wilt on Cavendish Bananas, Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (VCG 01213/16), in Vietnam

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-08-17-1140-pdn ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 448-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

T. N. Hung ◽

N. Q. Hung ◽

D. Mostert ◽

A. Viljoen ◽

C. P Chao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

First Report ◽

Race 4

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The contribution of the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) to the winter diet of frugivores in novel ecosystems

European Journal of Ecology ◽

10.2478/eje-2019-0005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 27-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dirk HR Spennemann

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Canary Island ◽

Food Source ◽

Date Palm ◽

Food Sources ◽

Novel Ecosystems ◽

Date Palms ◽

Phoenix Canariensis ◽

Winter Diet ◽

Native Foods

Abstract With the increasing expansion in urban areas, many species have adapted to utilising horticulturally used plants as alternate or augmentary food sources, in particular, during winter – when native foods are largely absent. Ornamental palms, particularly Canary Island Date Palms, fruit continuously during most of the year and thus provide a stable food supply. Based on observational, metric and bio-chemical data, this paper examines the role Canary Island Date Palms can and do play in the nutrition of frugivorous animals, in particular, for birds. It demonstrates that with its nearly year-round provisioning of drupes, the palm plays a major role as a ‘staple’ and backup food source for several species.

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