Verticillium Wilt of Pistachio

Abstract

Verticillium wilt is a common vascular wilt disease of many economically important crops. The disease was first identified in pistachio in California in 1970s and historically has been a serious problem of pistachio. With the introduction of resistant rootstocks, the significance of Verticillium wilt has diminished greatly in the US. In Arizona, Verticillium wilt can be a significant problem of older pistachio trees on susceptible rootstocks (Pistacia atlantica and P. terebinthus) in Cochise county. The disease often is lethal to trees and tree death causes significant yield loss and incurs high replanting costs.