Fungal Diseases of Washingtonia Palm (Washingtonia robusta)

Among ornamental palms, Washington (Washingtonia robusta) or Mexican fan Palm is one of the most important and regularly cultivated tree, throughout the world. It is fast growing, with thick reddish stem and large, shiny leaves. It is an ecologically and economically important plant, that can be used as profited farm business as well source of wood, thatch and other byproducts such as oils, phenolic compounds and terpenoids. There are different constrains in palm cultivation including pathogens that significantly diminish its production. Many fungal diseases such as wilt, bud rot, crown and rot rots, leaf spots, blights, seedling blight and damping off have been recorded, caused by different pathogens. Among several pathogens Phytophthora and Fusarium spp. are the leading cause of death of W. robusta. Various conventional and modern management strategies have been successfully exploited for sustainable palm production.