Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms| phytoplasma

Eric Frei · 30th July 2008, 07:08 PM

Unknown disease killing off Florida's state tree - USATODAY.com

Quote:

MIAMI (AP) — The sabal palm, Florida's state tree, is under attack by a microscopic killer that has scientists stumped.

An unknown but growing number of sabal palms in the Tampa Bay area have died from a mysterious disease that researchers are struggling to identify. Even after scientists pinpoint the disease — and that could take years — they will have to learn what insect spreads it. The disease will be tough to stop.

"It's not simply a matter that we will be able to eradicate," said Monica Elliott, a University of Florida plant pathologist. "That's not very likely."

Sabal palms, also known cabbage palms, can grow to 50 feet. In the United States, they can be found from the Florida Keys to parts of North Carolina and can grow in marshes, woodlands or along the coastline. The palm, which is also South Carolina's state tree, is featured in Florida's state seal and was designated the state tree in the 1950s.

Tim Schubert, an administrator and pathologist in Florida's Division of Plant Industry, said it's impossible to say what the disease's eventual effect on the state's sabal palms will be but "it's not going to be good."

"There's going to be fewer palms. They may present a less attractive tree in nature because of this new disease showing up," he said.

This is not the first time iconic Florida trees have been ravaged by disease. The state's orange and other citrus trees are being attacked by canker and greening. Scientists have been unable to stop either.

The new disease destroys the sabal palm and its other victims, which include Canary Island date palms and queen palms, from within. It's a tough diagnosis, Elliott said, often confused with nutrient deficiencies or excessive trimming. First to go are the lower leaves in the tree's canopy, followed by a dead spear leaf. Finally, the palm's canopy collapses.

Understanding how the disease spreads requires a trip back to high school science class.

This is a phytoplasma disease, which means it is a very small bacterium that doesn't have a cell wall. And it can only be transmitted through a plant's phloem, a type of transport tissue similar to veins in a human. The disease has likely found its way to sabal palms' phloem by either a tree- or leaf-hopping insect.

The disease is hitting the state during a tight budget year and University of Florida research funding has taken a hit. Officials can still turn to federal and private grants, and a proposal to dip into a small emergency fund is being considered, said Jack Battenfield, a spokesman for UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

"We don't have some of the freedoms we might have had before," Battenfield said. "The budget's tighter. We've got to look at things we can do most effectively, most efficiently, and have the biggest impact."

Quintrex · 30th July 2008, 09:11 PM

Is this likely to be a variation of Fusarium Wilt?

vl2007 · 2nd August 2008, 10:07 PM

First I've heard of it. Thx I have a 30 sabal in my front yard. nice tree, low maintenance.

newguy18 · 3rd August 2008, 10:13 AM

good news for us palm haters.

Eric Frei · 18th January 2009, 01:24 PM

Couple of PDF's Treeseer sent through are attached.

Quote:

Summary
• Texas Phoenix palm decline is a new disease in
Florida. It is caused by a phytoplasma, which is a
bacterium without a cell wall.
• The phytoplasma is similar to, but genetically
distinct from, the phytoplasma that causes lethal
yellowing (LY).
• Texas Phoenix palm decline is a systemic
disease, and the phytoplasma is probably
transmitted by a planthopper.
• Palms with greater than 25% discoloration or a
dead apical meristem (bud) due to this disease
should be removed immediately.
• Management of Texas Phoenix palm decline
includes trunk injections of oxytetracycline HCl
(OTC) every four months, and planting of palm
species that are not hosts of this phytoplasma.
• To date, the primary hosts of this phytoplasma
are Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date
palm), Phoenix dactylifera (edible date palm)
and Phoenix sylvestris (wild date palm).

Also product supplier etc for treatment.
TREE SAVER®

treeseer · 19th January 2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Couple of PDF's Treeseer sent through are attached.

Also product supplier etc for treatment.
TREE SAVER®

Yeah since you are Palm Tree Services I figured you might want to service them with more than a basal cut.

newguy18 · 19th January 2009, 12:42 PM

Palms are simple Guy,people only have them cleaned because they can't afford to have them removed.Cabling palms is out too.

Eric Frei · 20th January 2009, 07:57 AM

Well, other than the drought we had not a lot happens to them here.

treeseer · 20th January 2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

Palms are simple Guy,people only have them cleaned because they can't afford to have them removed.

Bill, I was cleaning palms in FL when your daddy was just a glint in his daddy's eye, and most of the palm owners were VERY happy to have them.

Arborphobia sucks, and palmphobia ain't much better.

Eric I'm glad those diseases aren't over there...yet?!?

newguy18 · 20th January 2009, 04:55 PM

step dad is 42,real dad is 56.

treeseer · 20th January 2009, 11:09 PM

okay I stand corrected. Still, I was cleaning palms 43 years ago, and they remain valuable assets in many floridian landscapes, so potshots at them are off the mark.

Thassall.

Sean Freeman · 20th January 2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

I was cleaning palms 43 years ago

What no pics

newguy18 · 21st January 2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treeseer

okay I stand corrected. Still, I was cleaning palms 43 years ago, and they remain valuable assets in many floridian landscapes, so potshots at them are off the mark.

Thassall.

I still clean them,with spikes of course.

I'm sure lots of people like them,just not me.

treeseer · 21st January 2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

I still clean them,with spikes of course.

Never spiked one; ladders are so easy to use.

newguy18 · 21st January 2009, 04:44 AM

Until you fall off of one,then you hate them with a passion.Have you ever fell off a ladder Guy?

treeseer · 21st January 2009, 07:30 AM

twice i can think of; once breaking an arm.

Still love them with a passion.

You may understand when your weight increases and your strength decreases. Happens to most.

newguy18 · 21st January 2009, 07:55 AM

I understand,i lost most of my ability to lift anything over 100 pounds when i crushed 3 disks in my back,and if my lower back gets cold,forget it i could barely get up when that happens.

Bob Tooley · 29th May 2009, 02:26 AM

I winter near Tampa (Zephyrhills) and saw a few of these palms near the airport in Tampa and a few others near the VA hospital. Though I work with tree diseases as a rule, palms aren't 'trees', but rather large plants, so they are completely out of my line of work.

newguy18 · 30th November 2009, 08:19 AM

Exactly,they aren't trees,just a big weed.

stirmantrees · 2nd December 2009, 01:54 PM

i have been seeing this black stuff growing on all kinds of palms around here making them wilty looking and eventually kills them. Wonder if this is the same?

i am still a fan of saw injection therapy.

30th July 2008, 09:11 PM	#2
Quintrex Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 764	Re: Unknown Diease Killing Florida Palms Is this likely to be a variation of Fusarium Wilt? __________________ Heightmaster

2nd August 2008, 10:07 PM	#3
vl2007 Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 344	Re: Unknown Diease Killing Florida Palms First I've heard of it. Thx I have a 30 sabal in my front yard. nice tree, low maintenance.

3rd August 2008, 10:13 AM	#4
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Diease Killing Florida Palms good news for us palm haters. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

19th January 2009, 12:42 PM	#7
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma Palms are simple Guy,people only have them cleaned because they can't afford to have them removed.Cabling palms is out too. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

20th January 2009, 07:57 AM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Australia's most prominant Arborist - prev Ekka Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 10,775	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma Well, other than the drought we had not a lot happens to them here. __________________ Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist \| Project Arborist

20th January 2009, 04:55 PM	#10
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma step dad is 42,real dad is 56. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

20th January 2009, 11:09 PM	#11
treeseer Former Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 811	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma okay I stand corrected. Still, I was cleaning palms 43 years ago, and they remain valuable assets in many floridian landscapes, so potshots at them are off the mark. Thassall.

21st January 2009, 04:44 AM	#15
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma Until you fall off of one,then you hate them with a passion.Have you ever fell off a ladder Guy? __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

21st January 2009, 07:30 AM	#16
treeseer Former Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 811	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma twice i can think of; once breaking an arm. Still love them with a passion. You may understand when your weight increases and your strength decreases. Happens to most.

21st January 2009, 07:55 AM	#17
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma I understand,i lost most of my ability to lift anything over 100 pounds when i crushed 3 disks in my back,and if my lower back gets cold,forget it i could barely get up when that happens. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

29th May 2009, 02:26 AM	#18
Bob Tooley Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: May 2009 Location: Scarborough, Maine USA Posts: 129	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma I winter near Tampa (Zephyrhills) and saw a few of these palms near the airport in Tampa and a few others near the VA hospital. Though I work with tree diseases as a rule, palms aren't 'trees', but rather large plants, so they are completely out of my line of work.

30th November 2009, 08:19 AM	#19
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 5,206	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma Exactly,they aren't trees,just a big weed. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA old schooler

2nd December 2009, 01:54 PM	#20
stirmantrees Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: oviedo, fl Posts: 487	Re: Unknown Disease Killing Florida Palms\| phytoplasma i have been seeing this black stuff growing on all kinds of palms around here making them wilty looking and eventually kills them. Wonder if this is the same? i am still a fan of saw injection therapy.

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