POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF FUSARIUM SPECIES ON OIL PALM SEEDS FOLLOWING CHEMICAL AND HEAT-TREATMENTS

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis may be present naturally on or withi n oil palm seeds, thus there is a risk of introducing the disease into previously wilt-free regions. A low proportion of infested seed was s hown to give rise to infected plants. Populations of Fusarium spp. on seeds significantly declined after routine processing to induce seed g ermination, but the pathogen was not eradicated. However, vacuum infil tration and soaking for 7 days with captafol effectively eradicated th e pathogen. The significance of F. oxysporum on oil palm seed as a pot ential inoculum source is discussed.