Monday, December 29, 2008

Texas Palm Decline Killing Palms in Florida

By Russ Frank

Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD), also known as Texas Palm Decline (TPD), was discovered in Texas in the southern coastal region in the late 1970's. TPPD is relatively new to Florida as it was first found in Florida in 2006.

Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is very similar to Lethal Yellowing (LY), a disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of palms in south Florida since the 1950's. Researchers believe the disease is spread by an insect. These insects feed on sap of an infected then spread the disease from palm to palm as it continues to feed.

Texas Palm Decline was discovered in the west central region of Florida and appears set to ravage thousands of expensive Canary Island Date palms, edible date palms, and wild date palms. These palms can cost from $5,000 to $10,000 apiece.

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.

Signs of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline begin with the browning of the lower fronds, the death of the spear (the newest unfolded frond), and continue to the dropping of immature fruit, and the premature death of more fronds, flowers and fruit.

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 the spear leaf of your palm has not died, but Texas Palm Decline symptoms currently exist, the palm may be saved with regular injections of oxytetracycline Hcl, an antibiotic. These injections, which must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm, can offer protection from palm decline.. This same antibiotic program may also be used on healthy palms to prevent Texas Phoenix Palm Decline when the disease is known to occur in the area.

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