Role of Fusarium in the Wilting of Guava in Malakand, Pakistan

Guava - belong to Family Myrtaceae – is a very productive and highly profitable fruit crop due to its two growing seasons annually, i.e., autumn and spring. It is the fourth important fruit of Pakistan and it is grown on an area of 61.6 thousand hectares with a total annual production of 549.5 thousand tons and per hectare yield is 8920 kg. Plant wilting has severely decreased the production of Guava in District Malakand, KP, Pakistan. Fusarium spp. especially Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum are mostly involved in the wilting of guava. These pathogens invade the xylem vessels and cause their blockage.