Texas Phoenix Palm Decline
A new disease to Florida, Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD) is caused by a phytoplasm, which is a bacterium without a cell wall. The first obvious symptom on mature palms is the premature drop of most or all fruits at one time (within a few days,) followed by flower death.  If the palm is not mature enough to produce fruit, or it is not the season for production, the next symptom is discoloration of the foliage, beginning with tips of the oldest leaves.  The leaves will turn varying shades of reddish-brown to dark brown or gray.  Biological Tree Services offers a full Texas Phoenix Palm Decline treatment program. Click Here for details.

Thielaviopsis
A trunk rot condition caused by the fungus Thielaviopsis paradoxa. The condition generally causes the trunk to collapse on itself, or the canopy to fall off the trunk, both without warning.  Only fresh trunk wounds will become infected, and apart from "stem bleeding," there may be no symptoms prior to the collapse of the palm.

Petiole (Rachis) Blight of Palm
Caused by a number of fungal pathogens, symptoms of this disease are a brown or reddish-brown elongated lesions or streaks along the petiole (stalk or stem portion) of the oldest (lowest) leaves of the palm. 

Pestalotiopsis (Pestalotia) Disease of Palm
Pestalotiopsis is a fungus which causes disease of both the palm leaf petiole, and the leaf blade.  Symptoms manifest as very small, yellow, brown or black spots that enlarge in size, usually turning gray with a black outline.

Ganoderma Butt Rot of Palms
Caused by the fungus Ganoderma zonatum, Ganoderma butt rot degrades the lower 4-5 feet of the tree's trunk.  While the condition cannot be confirmed until the formation of a basidiocarp (conk) on the trunk, symptoms may include mild to severe wilting, or a general decline.

At Biological Tree Services, we offer full palm maintenance and recovery programs, as well as inform our customers of potential diseases encroaching near their property.  Click Here for an outline of our maintenance program, and treatment schedule.

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Credit for all photos and documentation goes to the University of Florida IFAS Extension Office.