palm tree disease question

[Jeanne A]

I need some help with my palm tree. I am worried that is has Ganoderma Butt Rot.

I want to remove it if necessary as I don't want it to spread to my other two palm trees.

 

Also, what kind of palm tree is it? I have two others that I don't want to lose.

[Merlyn]

It looks like a Sabal Palmetto to me, and is a bit overpruned at the top.  The trunk part looks like maybe a woodpecker has been going at it?  You can also see damage like that if there's a sprinkler hitting it.  I'd check and see if any areas are squishy or wet.  If it's all solid to the touch I'd just make sure there's no sprinklers.  The green/white fungus on the surface is typical if it's in partial shade, and generally isn't a problem.

Ganoderma is tough to diagnose until you see a conk...and by then the palm is already too damaged to save.  And of course there's no cure for Ganoderma or Thielaviopsis trunk rots.  Prevention is the cure, such as keeping the lower trunk dry and avoiding open wounds.

[Jeanne A]

Thank you the wholes in the trunk are moist and I noticed the holes upon removing thick green fungus and it was wet when I removed it.

[Merlyn]

If the holes are wet and "weeping" that is a possible sign of Thielaviopsis.  It may also be nothing serious.  Since the rest of the trunk is also slightly green/white with fungus, it could just be normal Floriduh swampiness and an effect of being in a shady area.  Is the palm otherwise growing okay?  Are there fronds dying unusually early?  I see it was recently trimmed, were all the recently cut fronds still green and healthy looking?

[Jeanne A]

No dying palm fronds luckily.