I looked at a lg.(20' of clear trunk)Canary Is. Date Palm on Fri., that is starting to dieback from the tips inward evenly along the fronds.Checking my Sinclair,Lyon, and Johnson book, I can only come up with lethal yellowing. It has been in the ground less than 6 mos. Any suggestions?

Reply to post by Ken Green, on May 19, 2002 at 22:33:24:

I would consider a few other factors before prognosing a bacterial infection. It's a transplant, not too unusual to see problems. Have you investigated the irrigation program or noticed any proximity palms (irregardless of the specie) in decline? Are there any obvious cultural problems (soil type, planting depth, structural reinforcement) that may contribute? Is there any definitive damage from equipment or have the fronds been properly clipped before transplant?
If high value, just to be safe, you may want to go ahead and inject an anti-biotic ( it won't hurt other aspects of the palm's requirements).
Tell us where this is - that may help too.

Reply to post by Reed, on May 19, 2002 at 22:33:24:

I'll check the watering and soil on Sat. What kind of anti-biotics would you recommend? There wasn't any damage that I could see to the trunk. It is located in Bradenton, FL.(50 miles south of Tampa.)

Reply to post by Ken Green, on May 22, 2002 at 08:49:21:

Oxytetracycline-HCL. There are micro-injection capsules available from University of Florida. This treatment is not curative, and must be repeated every three months to keep the disease in remission. It is not recommended that injection programs be carried out indefinitely, just like the injections of oaks for wilt control. Repeat treatments often kill the tree but make for wonderful Real Estate agent's presentations. Your Canary Island palm is susceptable to LY, but how do the area hybrid palms look?


Here's a site you need to browse thru:

http://www.ftld.ufl.edu/lyfacts.htm#Table 2

Reply to post by Reed, on May 23, 2002 at 21:45:01:

The Coconuts and the Queens need nutrients. Plus they are being pruned too much and too often. Will reoccurence show up if we stop treatment after 1 year? Everything was planted 14 months ago. I'm gong to check out that uf site.

Reply to post by Ken Green, on May 24, 2002 at 20:12:50:

Ken, I'm not certain but Queens may not be susceptable, I know coconuts sure are - are you suggestion to me that you already injected?

Yes, browse the UFLA site on LY and follow a few links.

The injections themselves only inhibit the bacteria, sometimes one year, sometimes less. After so many treatments the antibiotic itself kills the palm - that's why the real estate people love it, they can claim the tree's been treated so the home value remains high. That's why I call it the "Merrill Lynch" drug.

Reply to post by Reed, on May 24, 2002 at 20:54:57:

No,hav'nt applied any anti-biotics yet. Would only treat the C.I. The Queens and Coco. need granular fert. But my main focus is on the C.I. Thanks for the info. Ken

Reply to post by Ken Green, on May 24, 2002 at 21:17:39:

much bad info in the above thread.
* LY isn't a bacterial disease.
* repeat OTC antibiotic injections don't kill
the palm, even over a great length of time.
* U of F, doesn't sell OTC
* Queen palms don't get LY

To address the first thread;
* transplanted large Phoenix sp, at least
Canary + Dactylifera need much water during
the establishment period(1-2 years),
irrigation bubblers are a must.
* most often a leaf tip/twig die back
indicates a root problem. Fungal root
diseases are the most common fatal cause
after a lack of water. Foliage fungal problems
are possible, send the roots and a leaf
sample to the state of Fl disease lab.
* research ganoderma, graphiola, palm weevil,
and palm nutrients(Dr. Broschat)
* I have never seen confirmed LY in Canaries.

Bill Imboden, Biologist, west palm beach, fl www.palmbeachfertilizer.com