Florida State Tree Disease Update

[Palmateer]

DNA finds suspect in dying palm trees

By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:36 PM

SEFFNER — After weeks spent genetically sequencing a mysterious disease that's killing Florida's state tree, the results are in: The deadly Texas Phoenix palm decline has found another victim.

Researchers suspected it was killing sabal palms, but they weren't sure until the DNA results returned. Palm decline was found in Florida palms in 2006 and was previously known to kill Canary Island date palms, edible date palms, wild date palms and queen palms.

Sabal palms affected by the disease have been found in Hillsborough, Manatee and, most recently, DeSoto counties.

Fears that sabal palms, a native species, could be wiped out by this disease have prompted the University of Florida to give palm researchers in Fort Lauderdale a $10,000 grant to track down which bugs are spreading the disease.

Researchers believe it's being transmitted between trees by "plant-hoppers" — a type of bug that sucks the sap out of the palms. The sap is where the disease is stored.

"It's like looking for a needle in the haystack," Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Monica L. Elliott said.

This will be the first time Florida researchers have searched for the insect or insects spreading the disease. They didn't have the funds before. But now that it's affecting a native species, it's garnering more attention, Elliott said.

Because it's native, it'll be much harder to stop, she said. There are just too many trees. And Elliott doesn't suggest anyone inoculate wild palms with the Tree Saver antibiotic, which has been said to help prevent the disease.

"When you start dealing with native areas you start dealing with the whole ecosystem," she said. "We don't know the long-term effect."

Forest extension agent Rob Northrop and three UF researchers are compiling literature to figure out the consequences if the sabal palm became extinct.

Northrop also is going to study whether Tree Saver really does help prevent palm decline. People who use it often report that it's helpful, but it's never been scientifically proved.

[Eric in Orlando]

I've seen some queen palms around here in the last month dying from this. Thankfully no Sabals yet.

[TikiRick]

My close friend, Dave, who works for the State of Florida Agriculture Division and I drove over to the St. Petersburg (FL) Central Palm Society Meeting last Saturday, 9/20.

He was particularly interested in driving off roads once on the westcoast to witness some the sabals affected and are in a state of decline. Unfortunately, we did find a few in the aforementioned counties.

There were even a few Syagrus romanzoffiana palms in question.

The signs are:

The lowest ranking of fronds are dead.

The lower and middle ranking of fronds appear to be chlorotic and may appear to be "red/orange" in color.

Eventually the death of all fronds moves from the lowest to the highest rank, then eventually the spear. It finally collapses and dies.

We also drove by the Kopsick Palm Arboretum on St. Pete as well. There, he suspects there is a mature specimen of Phoenix canariensis with "full blown" disease. It had been tagged for study and removal. It was obvious it will infected.

This is bad, folks. He equates this to Lethal Yellowing from the late 1970's in South Florida. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of hosts, and an explosion of leaf hopper population.

He feels that the Ag Dept.'s position is that it will eventually move to all species of those genera.

Can you imagine the entire state's population of all Phoenix, Sabals, and Syagrus being wiped out?

It has been suggested in trials that Bayers systemic 3 in 1 will help prevent the spread of this. But for wild areas, this in not only impractical, but too expensive. For the average homeowner, most will not recognize the need for such a product for a few palms in this economy.

I will post a photo or two later of the palms I mentioned in question in Central Florida.

[Palmateer]

Thanks, Rick.

Since there were many Phoenix palms killed by ganoderma butt rot at Kopsick over the years, it may be too soon to positively associate the new disease with that sick specimen.

We also drove by the Kopsick Palm Arboretum on St. Pete as well. There, he suspects there is a mature specimen of Phoenix canariensis with "full blown" disease. It had been tagged for study and removal. It was obvious it will infected.

[palmislandRandy]

Rick, Ive seen at least 10 Sables in western Palm Beach County, in the 441 & Marina Blvd (SW 18th St) area that looked like they melted! All were growing along canals. I'll try to drive by for pics. Very disturbing.

[palmislandRandy]

These are along State Road #441 around the Palm Beach, Broward County line. Pretty depressing. There's a fenced off preserve nearby with a group in the same sad condition.

[palmislandRandy]

:angry: This is about 5 miles south of me!

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

PalmIsland,

I live right around the corner from your pics. I thought that these Sabals were sprayed with herbicide as they died so quickly. In the County Park nearby they sprayed the juvenile Sabals so that they could return the field to a pine field. That is dumb. At least I hope they sprayed all those as I don't want it at my house!

Jerry

[TikiRick]

I would agree that these were sprayed to kill them. They do not exhibit the signs of the Texas palm situation.

Note that on one palm, there is still a green frond....perhaps missed by the spray. The signs of the Tx bug would be slowly moving up with dead fronds from the lowest ones to the spear.

Many times the municipalities will not want palms/trees growing to impede water flow in these canals. They often just kill them.

[koolthing78]

I've also been noticing an increasing amount of diseased looking palms, though it's hard to say if I've just been paying more attention since all of this came to light. There was another disease in a thread somewhere--I think Phoenix decline or something--that was mentioned as also affecting Washingtonias (I know a lot of people consider those weeds almost, but I have to say they're one of my favorite palms). And in St. Petersburg there is one house in particular, on 22nd Ave N. between Park St. and the Tyrone mall, where they had a nice grouping of Washingtonias that I always admired, but now there's one that's been totally defoliated, another with a dead, limp crown, and two others I'm sure aren't far behind. It makes me sad, because without the delightful whimsy of palms to distract us, Florida would just be a hot, miserable place to live (at least for 1/3 of the year).

[palmislandRandy]

I'm estatic(?) they were poisoned. I keep a sharp eye on my neighboring trees. Seems like every month I read about another pest aiming at my garden. :rage:

[SubTropicRay]

I wonder if Bayer's Yearlong Tree disease control systemic (w/ Imidacloprid) would work as a preventative. It can't hurt to try.

[JimStPete]

I've also been noticing an increasing amount of diseased looking palms, though it's hard to say if I've just been paying more attention since all of this came to light. There was another disease in a thread somewhere--I think Phoenix decline or something--that was mentioned as also affecting Washingtonias (I know a lot of people consider those weeds almost, but I have to say they're one of my favorite palms). And in St. Petersburg there is one house in particular, on 22nd Ave N. between Park St. and the Tyrone mall, where they had a nice grouping of Washingtonias that I always admired, but now there's one that's been totally defoliated, another with a dead, limp crown, and two others I'm sure aren't far behind. It makes me sad, because without the delightful whimsy of palms to distract us, Florida would just be a hot, miserable place to live (at least for 1/3 of the year).

I know exactly the clump you are talking about. I've been watching them grow since I moved here in 1989 when they were tiny little sprouts. That clump was rarely if ever trimmed (I always thought the disease was passed by infected trimming equipment). It's very sad to see those washingtonias go from beautiful to almost dead in such a short time!

[SubTropicRay]

I work near that area and will have to look for that group. The big Washies at work have been dying one by one.

[Eric in Orlando]

Is this disease infecting younger Washingtonia or the taller, older ones that have escaped lightining strikes? I have noticed that the taller ones that get over 30-40ft around here die one of 2 ways; lighting or diesease. If it is attacking younger robust specimens there is going to be trouble as it is way overplanted around here.

[TikiRick]

Folks, I think we are talking about two different concerns here.

The Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is affecting Phoenix, Sabals, and some Syagrus. There is no mention of Washingtonia.

Washingtonia are often the victims of lightning, and commonly an insect that gets into the bud of the Washingtonias......a weevil I believe. Many tall, mature specimens of Washingtonias in western Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale metro) have been affected recently.

[SubTropicRay]

A good link.

UF Texas Phoenix Palm Decline link

[TikiRick]

This is the Phoenix canariensis in Kopsick Arboretum in St. Petersburg with suspected TX Phoenix Palm Decline.

[tlawyer]

maybe you should stick to citrus???

[Jeff Searle]

maybe you should stick to citrus???

Stick to citrus? What kind of retarted answer is that? You act like we had a choice on whats planted or native palms versus trees. This has become a serious problem in our state.

Jeff

[Jon North Padre Island]

Not to down play the seriousness of the situation in Florida. But when the Canary Island date palms were hit so hard during the 1990's, and into 2001/2, here in Corpus Christi, suddenly in about 2002 it seemed to stop. Many old beautiful trees had died. When I came back to this area in 2001 there were carcasses seemingly everywhere. However, within about a year I didn't notice any more dying trees. What I did notice at that time was that the trees which seemed to had been affected mostly were older stressed trees or trees that had taken a lot of weed-eater or automobile damage to their trunks although that was not always the case. Perhaps if younger more robust trees were affected, that had happened earier, before I returned and started paying attention. Although a dying CIDP is hard not to notice. Thousands of Phoenix remain in this area and appear to be in good health. I don't remember anyone taking about Sabals or Syagrus being killed by this disease at that time, and there are a lot of those trees here.

[oliver]

Unfortunately Jon, I think the problem is back with a vengance here in Brownsville. Over the course of the past 4 to 6 months, almost every Phoenix planted here looks to be suffering - not just CIDP's. Even roebelini's are dying left and right. Maybe has something to do with all the rain we received this summer, but it looks like the typical picture of Phoenix decline.

Edited October 6, 2008 by oliver

[SubTropicRay]

Once the vector is identified, this may require citrus-like aerial spraying. Since the state tree is affected, it should be viewed as critical as the med-fly problem of the 1980's and 90's. The only problem is the existence of Sabal palmetto doesn't affect anyones bottom line.

[TikiRick]

I agree, Ray. Most people simply view the native sabal as a weed....one that they can either take or leave. Most don't even know this is our state tree....for obvious reasons....it is present from the north to the south ends of the state, coastal, swamp, or high and dry.

I can't imagine our state without all of the magnificent sabal palmettos.

[PricklyPearSATX]

How sad

However, thanks for the update.

A mystery solved, but it makes me wonder how many other species the Texas Phoenix Decline will attack.