palm tree disease treatment

[notrub]

Still have not found a tree doctor.  Is there a department of agriculture or university department that would know about palm tree diseases?  They are well documented on the internet but nobody here seems interested.  Any help please?

[CLW]

Ummh for what disease specifically? [emoji41]

[drtreelove]

3 hours ago, CLW said:

Ummh for what disease specifically?

Probably if OP knew specifically he/she wouldn't be asking for a palm doctor.

 

In general, Kasestart U in Bangkok is the primary forestry and ag school in Thailand, then there are regional ag universities like Chiang Mai U.  The government Department of Agriculture and Royal Forestry Dept also have specialists; but utilizing these resources could be a challenge. You would probably need to walk in and show your plant parts or photos and prepare to be shuffled around to find the right specialist.

 

Nong Nooch Botanical Garden near Pattaya used to have one the the top palm experts in the world, but he left a few years ago,  I don't know if he was replaced. I've lost communication with him but I have others.

 

Post photos and descriptions here and you may get help from some of the experienced growers on this forum. And state what region of Thailand your diseased palm is located in. 

 

Fusarium wilt, pink rot, gandoderma root rot are common palm disorders, as are some pest problems that you may be interpreting as disease. 

[drtreelove]

I just found notrub's previous post with a little more information.  

 

I have not seen lethal yellowing in Thailand, but if that's what your palm has then it is in trouble.  There is an antibiotic product, OTC (oxytetracycline hydrochloride) from Arborjet that can be injected as a preventive.  But this is not available in Thailand as far as I know. A cure for an advanced infection is unlikely.  I suspect the issue in Koh Phagnan was different, a pest problem (possibly coconut hispine or hispid beetle, or the rhinoceros beetle red palm weevil complex) that was controlled by injecting a systemic insecticide, like imidacloprid from Bayer . 

 

http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/prokaryotes/pages/lethalyellowing.aspx

 

I may be able to help you with diagnosis, but this will require good photos of the palm fronds and petioles, stem and surrounding site conditions, or any areas of the plant parts where you see a disorder. And describe growing conditions and maintenance, watering, fertilizing, sanitation (cleaning  up of fallen diseased plant parts and downed wood where beetles harbor and reproduce) and any pest control that you have been providing. 

 

I don't look at the forum everyday so give me a heads up by PM or wait a week or two for my reply. 

[notrub]

Drtreelove, Thank you very much for your interest and reply Here are some sick tree pics.  There is not much debris around the tree except for flowers etc. and there don't seem to be any bugs on it.  There is a big ants nest down in there someplace, however.  Have not used insecticides or other treatments.  It has been wilting and looking not good for some time and recently deteriorated a lot.  Will post this now and try to figure out how to send a note to you directly.  Thanks again,  Burton

[drtreelove]

This does not appear to be 'lethal yellowing' disease.  I suspect 'coconut rhinoceros beetle" and/or 'red palm weevil', damage. Not because I see the pest or definitive signs in your photos, but because it is so common in young trees of this variety of coconut palm and the damage appears similar. You will not likely see the adult pest during daylight hours. Look for big holes in the petioles, the woody base of the fronds, and in the upper trunk. There have been some discussions in this forum, and in the last few months in the TV "Plants, pets, and vets" forum. (Which is mostly about pets, and snakes, but occasionally has discussions on plants.)

 

Other members from Issan may be able to help you with resources for advise and materials.

 

Here are some interesting links that I found with a quick search; there are more.

 

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/palms/Oryctes_rhinoceros.htm

"Detection can be difficult due to the beetle’s nocturnal activity and residence within trees. Visual signs such as holes bored at the base of leaves and V-shaped feeding damage help locate this beetle."

 

BTW, if you use a systemic pesticide, it can end up in the fruit. So preventive, repellent type control is best for food crops.  You may loose this individual tree, but you can take up preventive suppression of the pest activity in unaffected palms.

 

https://cisr.ucr.edu/rpw/how_to_control_ rpw_ saudi_ arabia_brochure.pdf

 

 

[kannot]

Really need a  close up of the leaf  as its  not at all clear but it May be palm leaf skeletoniser, if  so you can spray the tree with cypermethrin which will stop it dead in its  tracks, you can also inject the tree in the trunk drilling in at a 45 degree  angle and pumping in the correct amount of chemical then sealing the hole. Coconuts throughout  Thailand are being stricken down with this, eventually it does  kill the tree

Cypermethrin is readily available in Thailand,

Ok Ive turned the photo round and zoomed in on it and im pretty sure it IS palm leaf skeltoniser, it  will leave a brown frass like  fluff under the leaves where the caterpillar eats thru the leaves, later they will develop into a small moth and spread the problem, Old  leaves can be cut off and BURNT any green/part green  leaf can be sprayed

Edited April 12, 2018 by kannot