STUDIES ON THE BLAST DISEASE OF SEEDLINGS OF THE OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.)

ABSTRACT

The series of investigations carried out into the blast disease of oil palm seedlings, a disease of high economic importance, showed that the disease was widespread in nurseries throughout south-westem Nigeria, The disease was prevalent between October of the year of planting and March of the following year and appeared to be severest in November and Deeember. The incidence of the disease was lower among seedlings planted into the nursery at the beginning of the rainy season in April than* among seedlings planted in June, July or August. Coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) and other palms of economic and ornamental importance, for example, Are ca catechu Linn., Ptychosperma elegans Blume * and Roystonea regia (H. B. K.) Cook also showed heavy blast infection.