The Asian citrus psyllid is garnering a lot of attention lately, largely because it spreads a serious disease called citrus greening disease or huanglonbing.
The insect itself is a fairly important pest on citrus. It is native to Southwest Asia and introduced to the United States in 1998 and in California in 2008. They are smaller, brownish insects that are fairly hard to spot until they begin to do damage. The adults lay eggs on citrus leaves and when the young hatch they feed on the leaves, exuding a sticky substance called honeydew. This sticky mess on a citrus plant is often the first noticeable problem. Leaves will turn a pale green, with twig dieback and lead to small, underdeveloped fruit if not controlled.
Fusarium wilt is a common wilt fungal disease that spreads mostly through the soil. The fungi enter through the roots and interfere with the water uptake of the palm. It is considered mostly fatal to them and doesn’t show symptoms right away so infected trees can often spread the disease.
Typically considered fatal, there is some promising research that shows some potential treatments that greatly prolong the life of the palm. Proactive treatment is recommended on otherwise non diseased palms.
My lower leaves are dying very quickly on some of my big
feather palm trees. What could be wrong?
If these are Canary Island date palms, it is most likely
fusarium wilt. This is a destructive fungal disease that is becoming more
widespread. You should notice on newly infected fronds that one half of the
frond dies first. As the disease progresses, the younger leaves will also be
affected and the plant will eventually die.
Can I save these palms?
If the disease has spread throughout much of the palm
canopy, then it should be removed and disposed of properly. Proper disposal is
important to minimize the risk of spreading.
What about my other Canary Island date palms that appear
ok now?
They should be treated on a regular basis to prevent
establishment of the disease in them. Since it spreads by water and air, nearby
Canary Island date palms will be infected eventually. This disease can survive
for years in the soil, and is spread by water, insects, and garden
equipment. The fungus develops during hot weather; dry weather and low
soil moisture encourage this plant disease.
Will it spread to other types of palms?
No just the Canary Island date palm is susceptible, typically.
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