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).
Texas Palm Decline disease was discovered in Florida in 2006. It's similar to Lethal Yellowing, a disease that's been killing palms by the hundreds of thousands in Florida since the 1950's. Researchers suspect an insect of spreading the disease from palm to palm by first feeding on an infected palm.
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.
Another palm affected is the less expensive but quite popular Queen palm. In addition the palm decline disease is suspected of jumping to a new species, the Sabal palm, which is also the state tree of Florida. Texas Phoenix Palm Disease has been recently confirmed in Pinellas, Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties in the west central region of Florida. This disease is expected to spread because of the number of palms bought, sold and shipped around 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.
Many of these Texas Phoenix Palm Decline symptoms may also be caused by herbicide or insect damage, lightning damage, overpruning or nutritional deficiencies. It takes a good deal of expertise to sort these palm decline 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.
Infected palms may be saved from Texas Palm Decline and healthy palms can be protected with by program of antibiotic injections. Treatment may be accomplished with the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl injected every 4 months for the life of the palm. This treatment can protect healthy palms if Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. This treatment program may save infected palms if the spear leaf has not died. - 16035
Texas Palm Decline disease was discovered in Florida in 2006. It's similar to Lethal Yellowing, a disease that's been killing palms by the hundreds of thousands in Florida since the 1950's. Researchers suspect an insect of spreading the disease from palm to palm by first feeding on an infected palm.
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.
Another palm affected is the less expensive but quite popular Queen palm. In addition the palm decline disease is suspected of jumping to a new species, the Sabal palm, which is also the state tree of Florida. Texas Phoenix Palm Disease has been recently confirmed in Pinellas, Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties in the west central region of Florida. This disease is expected to spread because of the number of palms bought, sold and shipped around 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.
Many of these Texas Phoenix Palm Decline symptoms may also be caused by herbicide or insect damage, lightning damage, overpruning or nutritional deficiencies. It takes a good deal of expertise to sort these palm decline 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.
Infected palms may be saved from Texas Palm Decline and healthy palms can be protected with by program of antibiotic injections. Treatment may be accomplished with the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl injected every 4 months for the life of the palm. This treatment can protect healthy palms if Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. This treatment program may save infected palms if the spear leaf has not died. - 16035
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Your expensive palms are at risk from Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD). The preventative maintenance program offered by Florida Bug Inspectors can protect your valuable palms from this fatal palm decline.
