Phoenix canariensis

Good evening exotic/tropical/sub-tropical gardeners.

I'm doing some research at the moment and would like to know if any of you palm experts know anything about a "bug/disease" that is recently getting into this species?

I'm afraid I don't have any specific to give you so I don't know if it's yellowing or whether it is a phytoplasma disease. Perhaps one of you studying at the moment are learning about this. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I need symptoms, treatments, etc, all the usual.

Many thanks in advance.

 

I`ve not heard of this LOL. I have a canariensis, but it`s fine.

 

Is it a problem over there LoL.
If so it may well not reach here, different climate etc.

 

Not that I'm particularly aware of, pete, and I certainly don't have a problem with mine. I know there is a problem in Florida and Texas.

As you say, different climates, but some of you may keep up on such things.

 

I think it would probably have to be brought into the country by infected plants, and the chances of it becoming widespread, I would guess, are not that great due to the small amounts of palms grown here.

 

Lol, there has been a problem with CIDP's in Greece where Fusarium (a type of fungus) has caused wilt and eventual death. I haven't heard of it spreading to other parts of the Med and I hope it doesn't. I suspect winter rainfall with a higher than normal humidity makes this fungus more active. Many other plants particularly seedlings can suffer from Fusarium and Phytopthera wilts and are usually the cause of 'damping off'.

 

Phytopthera is as stongy says a fungal disease its family are resposible for sudden oak death in california and the same family of fungi are related to potatoe blight that hit europe,up to now they haven't found a cure they are trying to develope a new fungicide,Mulching apparently helps apart from acting as a slow release fertilisers,'Mulching' also helps to stimulate a multitude of micro-organisms. Some are known as'antagonistic fungi' which apparently help to suppress other micro-organisms which are pathogenic by nature including Phytopthera, don't move soil from an infected area,in fact it can be transported on shoes, hopefully it is a humidity thing and with a drier year it may abate.

 

Hi Lady of Leisure: I don't know if this is what you are referring to, but there is a new bug which seem to be a widespread problem within palms recently.
See my post "Rhynchophorus ferrugineus" in the section: pest,disease and cures

 

Good morning, mira. It is indeed the red palm weevil which attacks this species. other date palms and others such as coconut and sago. I had sketchy information given to me yesterday but have found a small article in a magazine so, now I know what I'm looking for I need to research further.

This pest is destroying palms through the Middle East, the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, Spain (even to the Canaries). It has crept into the Algarve recently and we have many palm centres here housing thousands of trees.

Most of the weevil's life cycle takes place inside the palm, making it difficult to detect before things get out of control. The usual first signs are collapsing of the fronds followed by total destruction of the crown. The main part of the fronds appear green but the base where they join the trunk are brown and full of holes bored by huge white grubs.

The weevil's complete life cycle begins with the mature adult measuring 2-3cms laying several hundred white eggs in crevices, holes and any damaged areas of the palm's trunk. These hatch into larvae which eat their way through to the centre, eventually creating an evil smelling pulpy mess. The larvae pupate in cigar-shaped cocoons made from palm fibre. After a few months they emerge as stripey rust-brown weevils with long snouts. They then fly onto the next palm to destroy it.

I wonder where the palms being sold in the UK have come from ???????????

 

Wow LoL that is slightly worrying. I have 4 P. canariensis, all bought as palmlings not grown from seed. Don't think this little horror has got to UK yet, let alone this far north, but having lost a Trachy princeps baby to the relatively easy to deal with red spider mite, last year, I really don't want to meet this weevil. By Sago palm by the way do you mean cycads?

 

It is, John, because this is not "new" as originally thought. It's certainly something to be aware of. Yes, I do mean cycads.

A bit of heavy reading, but interesting ...

http://www.palms.org/palmsjournal/2002/redweevil.htm

http://www.gencat.cat/web/multimedia/eng/morrut/index_htm.htm

It appears that systematic use of Imidacloprid is the only preventative cure ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imidacloprid

http://www.rainbowscivance.com/xytect/index.asp

 

I'd better find a source of imidacloprid. I have cycads coming out of my ears. I nearly used the name cycapath instead of sarraceniac.

 

Was shopping today and in our little town of Silves where the road is lined with Canary palms (pics up in Country Life about June/July last year when I had the builders here and was escaping), the council was out today in full gear spraying where they had cut off the lower fronds.

Think they are taking the problem very seriously here and doing preventative maintenance.

The reason I have been investigating is a friend of mine, a landscape gardener, has just taken possession of 50 VERY LARGE specimens and I think wants to get them treated BEFORE there is a chance of infestation.

Fully grown ones are expensive, even here, so cut your losses if there is indeed going to be any or don't let it get a hold in the first place.

This bug is airborne. :eek:

 

Never had any trouble with any of my palms, but older leaves do go yellow then brown, and some leaves just go yellow at the ends so to tidy them up you brown bite them, most palms don't suffer from any pests or diseases.

 

I certainly agree with you here, TO.

However, the point I'm making is that this "bug/creature" is fast invading mainland Europe and plants that go to the UK come from ... mainland Europe! It's the current ones being imported that may be problematical as it cannot be detected in its infancy.