Pest and Disease Management in Date Palm

Date palm is one of the most nutritious fruits with enormous economic importance, but its growth, vigor, and productivity are decreasing due to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these factors biotic stresses, i.e., pests and diseases, are the major threat to date palm trees throughout the world. Date palms are attacked by several insect pests under field conditions. Although few of them cause serious economic losses to the crop, the stem-boring beetles and weevils wreak havoc, causing significant damage to the plants and resulting in death. Dates are also attacked by several mites and insect pests while in storage. Similarly, the physiological and pathological problems have a negative impact on potential yield of date palms. Among entomological and pathological factors, red palm weevil, black beetle, longhorn beetle, dubas bug, and fungal diseases cause catastrophic effects on yield and quality of date crops. These stresses occur because of lack of knowledge, poor pre- and post-care of offshoots, and poor management in the orchard. This chapter provides information on important pre- and postharvest pest and diseases of the date palm tree, leaf, and fruit, and suggests that integrated management of these pests and diseases is the most acceptable and efficient strategy; however, chemical controls are also suggested where insect and disease control failures are frequently experienced.