TREE SAVER®

The Exclusive Providers of OTC Tree Injection Formula and the Tree Saver Injection System for the Control of Phytoplasma Disease in Palms including Lethal Yellowing Disease and Texas Phoenix Decline in Palms

To contact us call:

1-561-655-6940 or email.

Symptoms of Phytoplasma Disease

The symptoms of Phytoplasma Disease (Lethal Yellowing &Texas Phoenix Palm Decline) are highly variable depending on palm species and cultivar but is most often associated with premature fruit drop, wilting of the inflorescene (seed/flower pod), excessive yellowing or browning of the canopy from the oldest to the newest fronds and finally death of the apical meristem (bud) of the palm.

It is important to note that some palms such as the Coconut and Adonidia Palm can easily be identified as having LY phytoplasma while other palm species are much more difficult to ID and a core sample submitted to the University of Florida will be needed to confirm the disease.

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)

The Coconut Palm is associated with the Lethal Yellowing (LY) strain of Phytoplasma. This was the first tree in Florida to be infected by phytoplasma and it was the inspiration for coming up with a preventative treatment.  Since the 1970’s we have been injecting Coconut Palms on the East coast of Florida and in the Florida Keys. It has also been in use in the Caribbean for quite some time.

 

Lethal Yellowing symptoms vary depending on the cultivar of Coconut Palm infected. It was once believed that some cultivars were resistant to LY but an extensive study performed by the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center has proven this to be untrue. Read the results of their research study here.

 

First Stage–

Premature dropping of nearly all fruit within a very short period of time (days). The top where the fruit connects to the tree will be brown and rotten.

Second Stage–

Necrosis of inflorescence (flowers) and seed pods. This is a significant sign of LY in its beginning stages. Flowers should be a creamy tan color.

In the pictures to the side, the picture on the right is of healthy inflorescence while the one to the left is the inflorescence of an infected Coconut Palm.

Third Stage–

This stage of LY is the yellowing (Jamaica or Atlantic Tall cultivar) or browning (Malayan or Panama cultivars) of the fronds from the oldest fronds on the bottom to the upper newest fronds.

Often a “flag leaf” will be present at this stage. A flag leaf is a leaf in the 10 or 2 o’clock positions that turns yellow prior to the yellowing of the lower fronds.

Flag Leaf

Final Stage–

The final stage of LY is the death of the apical meristem (bud) of the tree. Sometimes there will still be live green fronds on the tree but the death of the apical meristem is equivalent to the death of the tree.

Eventually all of the fronds will fall from the palm and leave behind what is known as a the “telephone pole”.

Adonidia Palm (Adonidia merrilli)

aka Christmas Palm

First Stage–

Premature dropping of nearly all fruit within a very short period of time (days). The stem that holds the fruit will begin to brown and curl at the ends.

Second Stage–

The fronds will appear as if someone has intentionally bent them downwards. Although not always present, this is significant sign that the tree is infected.

Third Stage–

The fronds will start to brown (yellowing is usually not present). This starts with a streaked look and eventually leads to full browning of the frond.

Final Stage–

The final stage is the death of the apical meristem (bud) of the tree.  The fronds will brown from the bottom up often leaving just the center spear leaf but this will eventually fall over.

Phoenix Date spps.

Dactylifera (Medjool), Canary Island, Sylvester, Reclinata

First Stage–

Premature dropping of nearly all fruit within a very short period of time (days). The stem that holds the fruit will begin to brown and wilt.  Necrosis of the inflorescence (flowers) will also occur during this stage.

Second Stage–

The fronds will start to brown (yellowing is usually not present) beginning with the lowest fronds first and progressing upward.

Final Stage–

The final stage is the death of the apical meristem (bud) of the tree.  The fronds will brown from the bottom up often leaving just the center spear leaf but this will eventually fall over.

Please Note-

The symptoms of Phytoplasma Disease in Date Palms closely mimics other diseases, most notably fungal diseases or even nutritional deficiency.

Nearly all species of Phoenix Date Palms are susceptible to Phytoplasma diseases including Dactylifera (Medjool), Canary Island , Sylvester, and Reclinata. It is very important to note that Roebeleniis are NOT susceptible. Phoenix Date Palms are susceptible to both genetic forms of Phytoplasma Disease including Lethal Yellowing on the east coast of Florida and Texas Phoenix Palm Decline on the west coast and central Florida. This disease is also affecting Date Palms in Texas.

Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto)

The Sabal Palm is the latest species to be confirmed at being susceptible to Phytoplasma Disease. It is still not known the exact genetic variety of disease but it is expected at this time to be Texas Phoenix Decline.  Affected Sabal Palms are currently only found in Hillsborough and Manatee counties in Florida.  We do not have pictures of infected Sabal Palms yet but please check out the Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Page for details here.

First Stage–

Premature dropping of nearly all fruit within a very short period of time (days). The stem that holds the fruit will begin to brown and wilt.  Necrosis of the inflorescence (flowers) will also occur during this stage.

Second Stage–

The fronds will start to brown prematurely beginning with the lowest fronds first and progressing upward.

Final Stage–

The final stage is the death of the apical meristem (bud) of the tree.  The apical meristem will often die before the entire canopy has fully browned out.

Queen Palm (Syragus romanzoffiana)

The Queen Palm is affected by Texas Phoenix Decline and so far has been found only on the west coast. Very few Queen Palms have been positively identifed as having TPPD and the ones that have been confirmed were in areas with high infection rates. Further, this seems to have more of an affect on younger palms more so than mature palms.

First Stage–

Premature dropping of nearly all fruit within a very short period of time (days). The stem that holds the fruit will begin to brown and wilt.  Necrosis of the inflorescence (flowers) will also occur during this stage.

Second Stage–

The fronds will start to brown prematurely beginning with the lowest fronds first and progressing upward.  Also, the roots will begin to rot away.

Final Stage–

The final stage is the death of the apical meristem (bud) of the tree.  The apical meristem will often die before the entire canopy has fully browned out.

Other Palm Species

For most other palms affected by Phytoplasma Disease the symptoms will be similar to those described above.  The presence of phytoplasmas in other palms is limited due to the fact that most of the other species affected are uncommon in the landscape.  Therefore, documentation of specific symptoms and photos are limited.