The Date palm tree is extremely susceptible to a disease called Bayound disease which is caused by a parasitic fungus Fusarium Oxysporum. First the disease was reported around one hundred years ago in Marocco. It is the most serious disease of the Date palm.

Fusarium Oxysporum enters the medjools via roots causing the leaves on one side of the tree to dry. After one side has been infected, the infection of bacteria begins to spread on the other side followed by the death of the palm. Dying process may take from several weeks to several months.

No cure for the disease exist, the fungus is fatal. Fungicides have not been effective against this fungus.  Disease management can be based only on disease prevention. Control measures are necessary to protect healthy crops from infection.

Fusarium Oxysporum can be spread by transplanting, wind, water, birds, but primarily by contaminated pruning tools. To prevent the Date palm from infection it is very important to prune them with new or clean, disinfected tools.

The Date palm tree is also susceptible to black leaf spot, graphiola leaf spot, pestalotia leaf spot, belaat, black scorch, diplodia, khamedj, omphalia root rot and fruit rot diseases.

To protect medjools from diseases control measures should be implemented such as annual leaf pruning, cleaning pruning tools and treating the diseases palms with appropriate  fungicides.

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