In the late 1970's a new palm decline disease was discovered in the southern coastal region of Texas. Due to the type of palms it affected, it was called Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD), or just Texas Palm Decline (TPD).
This palm decline disease is very similar to Lethal Yellowing. Hundreds of thousands of palms have been killed in south Florida since the 1950's by Lethal Yellowing. The disease appears to be spread by an insect feeding on the sap of an infected palm. As the insect feeds on other palms, the disease is spread.
Texas Palm Decline appears to be moving in to the west central portion of Florida, ready to infect thousands of palms in the Phoenix family, including wild date palms, Canary Island Date palms, and edible date palms. These palms can be quite expensive - $5,000 to $10,000 each.
Less expensive but much more numerous Queen palms can also be affected. This palm decline is also suspected of jumping to Sabal palms, a native palm and the Florida state tree. Texas Phoenix Palm Decline has been confirmed in Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties in west central Florida. This palm decline disease is likely to spread because palms are frequently bought, sold and moved throughout Florida.
Symptoms of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline include browning of the lower fronds, death of the spear (the youngest unfolded frond), fronds dying prematurely, flowers and fruit dying prematurely, premature fruit drop and eventual death of the palm.
Eventually the palm will die as this palm decline disease is fatal. Many of the Texas Palm Decline symptoms described here may be the result of other causes such as lightning, overpruning, insects, herbicides and nutritional deficiencies. Only an expert can sort these symptoms out.
Call a palm expert or certified arborist to help determine whether your palm has Texas Palm Decline. If they believe the palm decline disease is present, they will send sample to a lab to confirm it. If the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline disease is present, it is in the best interest of the community to remove the diseased palm as soon as possible to prevent further spread.
If Texas Palm Decline symptoms exist on a palm, but the spear leaf has not died, the palm may be saved by injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl. Treatment of palm decline must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm. This antibiotic may also be used as a preventive treatment on healthy palms when Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. The 4-month schedule applies. - 16492
This palm decline disease is very similar to Lethal Yellowing. Hundreds of thousands of palms have been killed in south Florida since the 1950's by Lethal Yellowing. The disease appears to be spread by an insect feeding on the sap of an infected palm. As the insect feeds on other palms, the disease is spread.
Texas Palm Decline appears to be moving in to the west central portion of Florida, ready to infect thousands of palms in the Phoenix family, including wild date palms, Canary Island Date palms, and edible date palms. These palms can be quite expensive - $5,000 to $10,000 each.
Less expensive but much more numerous Queen palms can also be affected. This palm decline is also suspected of jumping to Sabal palms, a native palm and the Florida state tree. Texas Phoenix Palm Decline has been confirmed in Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties in west central Florida. This palm decline disease is likely to spread because palms are frequently bought, sold and moved throughout Florida.
Symptoms of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline include browning of the lower fronds, death of the spear (the youngest unfolded frond), fronds dying prematurely, flowers and fruit dying prematurely, premature fruit drop and eventual death of the palm.
Eventually the palm will die as this palm decline disease is fatal. Many of the Texas Palm Decline symptoms described here may be the result of other causes such as lightning, overpruning, insects, herbicides and nutritional deficiencies. Only an expert can sort these symptoms out.
Call a palm expert or certified arborist to help determine whether your palm has Texas Palm Decline. If they believe the palm decline disease is present, they will send sample to a lab to confirm it. If the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline disease is present, it is in the best interest of the community to remove the diseased palm as soon as possible to prevent further spread.
If Texas Palm Decline symptoms exist on a palm, but the spear leaf has not died, the palm may be saved by injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl. Treatment of palm decline must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm. This antibiotic may also be used as a preventive treatment on healthy palms when Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. The 4-month schedule applies. - 16492
About the Author:
Protect your expensive palms from Texas Palm Decline (TPD). Florida Bug Inspectors, the pest control experts, offer a preventative maintenance program designed specifically to prevent this palm decline disease.
