The bud rot of oil palm in San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador

Abstract

Oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) in the area of San Lorenzo were directly observed, and some plants were dissected to assess the internal symptoms, with the purpose of characterizing the symptomatology of bud rot. The plants showed chlorosis and yellowing of young leaves around the bud, necrosis of leaflets in young leaves, necrosis and rot of spears (outer leaf in the process of opening), bending of spears leaves due to the breaking in the lower third, necrosis and internal bud decay which can descend to the meristem and leads to the death of the plants. It is estimated that the incidence of the disease ranges around 30 %. In Ecuador, Researchers have not still identified the agent causing this disease since the early 80’s.