Robert W. Walton Jr.

FUSARIUM WILT IN CANARY
ISLAND DATE PALMS

Canary Island date palm Canary Island date palms, Phoenix Canariensis, are majestic palms that symbolize San Diego and the Southern Californian life‑style.
Fusarium wilt fungus is always fatal.
However, they are under attack by a fungus known as fusarium wilt, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis.

This fungus is always fatal. It can take a few months to a few years to kill the tree. There is no cure.

dying fronds

The first sign are dying fronds around mid‑canopy, which is above the level at which they normally die.

frond leaflets

The pinnae or leaflets of the frond die on one side of the rachis or main stem while remaining green on the other as seen in the left and right photos.

The fronds continue to die higher and higher

The fronds continue to die higher and higher

The fronds continue to die higher and higher as seen in the left and right photos.

eventual palm tree death

Until the palm eventually dies.

THE CAUSE?
The fungus enters through the root system or, most commonly, through pruning cuts.

What can you do to protect your valuable date palm?

It is theorized that the disease is most likely spread from date palm to date palm by pruning with infected tools.
What you can do is insist that whoever prunes your trees:

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