After much scientific chopping with a matchet , I think this tree was give out from lethal yellowing .
There are weevils that lay eggs in the center of palm tree , then the developing larvae burrow the tree to end . In this case , there were no weevils . The symptom also take care to me like the direful deadly yellowing .
Lethal Yellowing
Lethal yellowing is a disease of palms which sweep through South Florida ten ago and shoot out many of the iconic palms line roads and park .
Accordingto Infogalactic :
“ There is a direct connection between greenish lawns and the cattle farm of deadly yellowing in Florida . Even so - called ‘ resistant cultivars ’ such as theMalayan Dwarfor theMaypan hybridbetween that dwarf and the Panama Tall were never take to have a 100 % unsusceptibility . The nymphs of the planthopper develop on roots of grasses , hence the area of sens in the vicinity of decoration trees is connect with the spread of thisphytoplasmadisease . The problem rise as a unmediated effect of using coconut and day of the month palms for decorative and landscape gardening design in lawns , golf path and gardens together with thesegrasses . When these two important solid food thenar were grow in traditional ways ( without grasses ) in plantations and along the shore , the palm grove were n’t observably impact by deadly yellowing . There is no grounds that disease can be spread when instruments used to hack an infected palm are then used to cut or prune a goodish one . Seed transmission has never been establish , although the phytoplasma can be find oneself in coconut meat seednuts , but phytosanitary quarantine procedures that forbid movement of coconut seminal fluid , seedling and ripe palms out of an LY epidemic area should be applied to weed and other plant that may be carrying septic transmitter . ”
See – there ’s another reason not to keep your yard squeamish !
The symptom exhibited by this alas coconut palm net withwhat I read at UF about lethal yellowing disease :
“ As leaf discoloration advances up through the cap ( canopy ) , the spear ( vernal ) leaf flop and hang down in the crown . This indicate the apical meristem ( bud or growing point of the thenar ) has expire .
For most palm species , including coconuts , death of the apical meristem ordinarily takes place when one - one-half to two - thirds of the tip has become scandalmongering or dark-brown . However , for Phoenix species and Borassus flabellifer , fishgig leaf collapse and death of the apical meristem appears when one - third or less of the diadem has become discolor ( Figure 15 ) . For Adonidia and Veitchia , the spear is usually untouched until after all other leaf have died .
Once this spear leaf breaks off or fall from the crown , it is not pronto unmistakable that the apical meristem ( bud ) has pass away .
finally , the integral pennant of the decoration withers and topples , leave a bare trunk standing . Infected palm usually die within 3 to 5 months after the first appearance of symptoms . ”
Yep . That ’s what bump .
How I Plan to Deal with Lethal Yellowing
Unfortunately , there ’s not a foolproof cure for the disease . UF admits as much , even in give a treatment plan :
“ Chemical control of LY is achieve by lotion of the antibiotic oxytetracycline HCl ( often referred to as OTC ) distribute to palms by melted shot into the trunk
As a alterative measure , systemic treatment on a 4 - month treatment schedule should begin as betimes in symptom expression as possible . Symptomatic palms with > 25 % discolored leaf should be take , since they are improbable to reply to OTC handling . For susceptible Phoenix species , if the apical meristem ( bud ) is already utter , the palm will not respond to OTC treatment .
The antibiotic drug can also be used preventively to protect ribbon when LY is know to come in the surface area . The amount recommended depends on the size of it of the treated laurel wreath . Always follow focussing for use of goods and services on the recording label .
The one enquiry often enquire regarding OTC injections pertain the distance of time one must continue to inject . Unfortunately , there is no definitive solvent . The antibiotic does not necessarily kill the phytoplasma but simply reduces or inhibit the phytoplasma universe in the palm to a level that is no longer harmful , allowing recommencement of normal growing of the palm . If injection are break , it is possible the phytoplasma will begin to increase once again and symptoms will re-emerge on the palm . instead , if the disease is still active in the area , the unprotected palm could be re - infected with the phytoplasma .
Disease management via control of planthopper populations is insufficient to justify echo insecticide applications in landscape . Planthoppers are flying insects , and they also can be blown around by wind .
Use of boniface thenar resistance represent the most practical long - terminus root for LY dominance . ”
There are variety here in Central America that are being tested for deadly yellowing resistance .
For now , I am edit out down infected specimens …
… and I am planting more coconuts around this property . Coconuts out in the natural state and on the beaches do n’t seem to be dying all that much , even as the one around house are .
Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood , Florida , used to be lined with Jamaican King palm tree trees – a large , beautiful coconut palm .
Lethal yellowing kill many of them and then , in 1989,the news went out that the trees would be replaced with a hybrid royal palm :
“ On Wednesday , city commissioner agreed to spend $ 247,000 to plant 233 Maypan palms on the beach and 30 royal palm on Hollywood Boulevard .
“ If were going to have a Hollywood , weve got to have royal palms on Hollywood Boulevard , “ City Commissioner John Williams said .
one C of Jamaican tall coconut medallion already are planted on the beach , and about 200 royal palms line Hollywood Boulevard from Young Circle to the Intracoastal Waterway .
But some of the existing tree diagram have been harmed by fungus and lethal yellowing disease , as well as improper pruning by city employees , said Jerry Behrmann , who owns Key Lime Landscape Nursery and was hire to plant the newfangled palm tree .
Behrmann said he expected to start out the beach plantings within two weeks , but was not sure how soon the trees would be plant on the boulevard .
The Maypans , a hybrid create to resist deadly yellowing , will stand about 20 foot high , or about 10 foot short than the Jamaican talls on the beach . The new majestic palms , about 20 feet tall , will be dwarfed by the old 60- to 70 - foot palms that dot the boulevard . ”
The Boulevard is beautiful now thanks to those palms , but I can imagine how much more tropical it would have looked with those towering coconut decoration .
All gone , thanks to lethal yellowing .
“ Blight come at you fast , ” as the insurance party says , right ?
