Ever since 2003, the whole state of Florida is talking about the heart-wrenching effects of Fusarium Wilt. This threatening disease has stolen several palm beauties of Florida. The sad part being that there is no cure for this devastating fungal plant disease. However, there are few precautions, tips and techniques that can help you save your palm trees from Fusarium wilt.
Fusarium Wilt:
A fungal plant infection or disease that is caused by fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Similar to other fungal infection properties, Fusarium wilt also is spread through fungal spores. Heavy winds and storm, water, infected transplants, etc., are carriers of the spores. Once the spores settle on a herbaceous species, they germinate into the plant, thereby affecting it completely. Since the fungus is rapid at transmission, the risk for other trees or plants in the vicinity being affected is obvious and large.
Tampa palm trees are no exception from being affected with Fusarium wilt. It is a necessity that you take all required precautions to save your Floridan beauties if your palm trees are towering beauties outside your home or building. For estimates on fungicides or more help on precautionary methods, call us at Tampa Tree Works today.
Fusarium wilt symptoms:
In Tampa, Florida, the palm varieties that are predominantly affected with Fusarium wilt are, the Queen palm and Washingtonian or Mexican fanned palm. The symptoms to identify the disease is simple; it starts off with chlorosis (yellowing of leaves), starting from the older leaves at the bottom and gradually spreads to the top, the plant’s growth is stunted, the foliage turns brown and dry. This complete browning of foliage is the significant feature of this disease. The rachis in both palm species turns red and then it spreads to the leaflets. The palm tree once infected will die out in a few months. Some coastal palms or those in more moist areas have been noticed to die out less rapidly, in comparison to those trees in more dry and desert areas. Fusarium wilt will lead to pink rot in some cases, which will hasten the tree’s death. Supervised application of Thiophanate-methyl fungicide will prevent pink rot from developing on trees already infected with Fusarium wilt.
There is no remedy or cure for Fusarium wilt. The infected plant or tree is removed and the place is disinfected thoroughly. However, if your palm is lucky enough to be spotted right at infancy, there is an EDA approved antibiotic injection, that is inoculated into the trunk. The antibiotic is called OTC (oxytetracycline HCL), and this has to be administered every 4 months throughout the palm’s age. For further details on the vaccination and its usage, contact our arborist.
Prevention:
The queen palm exhibits its symptoms of Fusarium wilt slowly through its foliage. If you notice closely, queen palms affected with this fungal disease, will show a different coloration on the leaflets on one side of the rachis first. Later, it spreads to the other side as well.
The only precautionary method for this disease is regular monitoring of the tree’s health right from when it’s young. Prune the tree, use fertilizers, apply anti-fungal agents and keep your plant safe from pathogenic attack. Have an arborist inspect your plant, if you notice any unusual coloration in the tree foliage or crown. Ensure your plant pruning and trimming is done following the right procedures by a professional. If you happen to find any moulds or wilting in the plant, have them removed by a professional alone! If you aren’t an expert at this, the chances are that you might spread the infection through unsystematic removal. Always be on track when it comes to sanitising pruning tools! The biggest and most forgotten disease carriers are pruning tools. Even if it is an arborist who carries out all pruning procedures and other tree maintenance techniques, you should still be sure enough to check with them that the tool and equipment that they use are thoroughly sanitised.
Palm trees are Florida’s aesthetic landmark. If you are a tree owner who loves palm trees or owns them, take a step to saving them from today! For help on wilt removal or any clarifications that you have on the same, reach out to us at Tampa Tree Works, Tampa, Florida.
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