Lethal Yellowing Inoculations

Lethal yellowing is a disease first noticed in the Caribbean region of North America about 100 years ago. However, it was not until the 1950s and a devastating outbreak in Jamaica and the Florida Keys that the economic consequences of lethal yellowing were recognized and intensive research begun. More recently, the disease has spread to other areas of Florida and into Texas. There is no cure for lethal yellowing, although it can be controlled in valuable trees with regular injections (four times annually) of oxytetracycline.

Symptoms
Lethal Yellowing gets its name from the yellowing and drooping of palm fronds beginning with the lower fronds and advancing up through the crown. The disease characteristically has the following progression:

  1. Coconuts, mature and immature, begin to drop from coconut palms and the fruit begin to drop from other varieties, a process called ‘shelling’.
  2. Flower stalks (inflorescences) begin to blacken.
  3. Palm fronds start to yellow (or, in the case of some species, turn greyish-brown), beginning with the older, lower fronds and progressing up through the crown.
  4. The spear leaf collapses and the bud dies. By the time that this happens, the tree is already dead.
  5. The entire crown falls from the tree leaving a forlorn ‘telephone pole’ stalk. The palm dies within three to six months of the first symptom.

Most common susceptible palms include Coconut, Christmas and Canary Island Date Palms. For a full list of palms please click on link below.

The Cause
The cause of lethal yellowing a bacteria-like organism called a phytoplasma. Phytoplasmas are not yet well understood but, like bacteria, they can be controlled with antibiotics, in this case, oxytetracycline.

The Spread of the Disease
The lethal yellowing micro-organism is spread by an insect, called the Planthopper (myndus crudus).

What to Do
There is to date no cure for lethal yellowing, only prevention. Quarterly injections of oxytetracycline can keep the disease in check. Planting disease resistant palms, early detection, removing the host plant as soon as possible, and prevention by inoculation programs is the best method for management of Lethal Yellowing. Ian Orlikoff is a certified Lethal Yellowing inoculator.

Signature Tree Care uses the University of Florida approved product and method of application. Injections are performed on a consistent quarterly basis accompanied with inspections to aid in protecting your palms from the deadly disease. We also perform timely removals, the proper disposal of infected material, and injections of susceptible palms on your property the same day.

For more information on Lethal Yellowing and a complete list of susceptible palms click here.

   
   

Air Spade

Bracing

Cabling

Code Violation Remediation

Consulting

 

Lethal Yellowing

Pruning

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Root Barrier

Tree Removal

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