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 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.
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.
Texas Palm Decline exhibits symptoms that include lower fronds that turn brown, death of the spear leaf (the youngest unfolded frond), premature death or fronds, premature death of fruit and flowers, premature fruit drop, and eventually death of the palm itself.
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 Texas Palm Decline symptoms exist on a palm, but the spear leaf has not died, the palm may be saved by injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl. Treatment of palm decline must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm. This antibiotic may also be used as a preventive treatment on healthy palms when Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. The 4-month schedule applies.
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