Fusarium wilt of palms - fact sheet - Palm Tree Fusarium Wilt Disease

Fusarium wilt is a devastating disease of certain species of palms that was first observed in Australia in the early 1980s when palms began to die at Centennial Park in Sydney. Most of these palms have since died, and the disease has been observed at other locations in Sydney. It is likely that more palms will die and that the disease will limit the use of certain palm species used for landscaping.

Symptoms of the disease: palms affected by this disease are characterised by an unusual type of frond death - fronds may die more rapidly on one side of the tree, or from the base or from the centre of the tree. Most characteristically the pinnae and spines on one side of an individual frond die first and the lower fronds die rapidly so that eventually only a few surviving fronds form a spike at the top of the tree.

Eventually the whole palm will die. Affected fronds when removed from the plant will often show discolouration of the vascular bundles. This is best seen if the cut surface is wet and cleaned. Small blackened areas should be visible on the cut surface.

Plant Disease Diagnostic Unit
Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust
Mrs Macquaries Rd
Sydney NSW 2000
Telephone: (02) 9231 8186
Facsimile: (02) 9241 1135
Email: pddu@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au