Verticillium wilt of olive branches in Iran and its control managements with soil solarization method.

Wilting of mostly one branch in nurseries and newly established orchards of olive was studied in eastern north of Iran including Zanjan, Golestan and Khorassan provinces during 2002-2004. Different infected plants were visited and samples showing symptoms including wilting or death of branches collected from various areas and transferred to laboratory. Samples were cultured in common media (PDA) and different fungi were identified. The most frequently isolated pathogen was Verticillium dahliae which caused wilting of mostly one branch of olive seedling or trees in studied areas. Results showed that the disease caused main losses where olive cuttings were cultured in infected soils, previously cropped to susceptible plants. In fact, the population density of V. dahliae was high in the garden soil, previously produced susceptible crop cultivar to the fungus especially cotton or potatoes. Soil disinfestations by soil solarization method was carried in Taroam as the warmer climate in studied areas to control the pathogen. Application of this method reduced population density of the pathogen from 1700 CFU g/soil to 1000 after 4 weeks. This method was simple, effective, non negative side and economic which can be used in nearly warm areas.