Texas Palm Decline (TPD), also known as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD), was first discovered in the southern coastal region of Texas in the late 1970's. This palm decline disease is relatively new in Florida, first discovered in 2006.
Texas Palm Decline disease was discovered in Florida in 2006. It's similar to Lethal Yellowing, a disease that's been killing palms by the hundreds of thousands in Florida since the 1950's. Researchers suspect an insect of spreading the disease from palm to palm by first feeding on an infected palm.
Texas Palm Decline was discovered in the west central region of Florida and appears set to ravage thousands of expensive Canary Island Date palms, edible date palms, and wild date palms. These palms can cost from $5,000 to $10,000 apiece.
Other palms affected include the Queen palm, which is less expensive but much more numerous., and the Sabal palm, a Florida native and the Florida state tree. The presence of Texas Palm Decline has been confirmed in Polk, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties in west central Florida. Experts predict the palm decline disease will spread as palms are often bought, sold and moved throughout Florida.
Signs of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline begin with the browning of the lower fronds, the death of the spear (the newest unfolded frond), and continue to the dropping of immature fruit, and the premature death of more fronds, flowers and fruit.
Eventually the palm will die as this palm decline disease is fatal. Many of the Texas Palm Decline symptoms described here may be the result of other causes such as lightning, overpruning, insects, herbicides and nutritional deficiencies. Only an expert can sort these symptoms out.
Call a palm expert or certified arborist to help determine whether your palm has Texas Palm Decline. If they believe the palm decline disease is present, they will send sample to a lab to confirm it. If the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline disease is present, it is in the best interest of the community to remove the diseased palm as soon as possible to prevent further spread.
If Texas Palm Decline symptoms exist on a palm, but the spear leaf has not died, the palm may be saved by injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl. Treatment of palm decline must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm. This antibiotic may also be used as a preventive treatment on healthy palms when Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. The 4-month schedule applies.