Lethal Yellowing of Palms, Insect Vectors and Mycoplasma-like Organisms

[tcmgpt13]

I am unable to locate any information about a mystery fungus killing palm trees, including coconut palms. There is however a lot of discussion about the lethal yellowing of palm trees which at one time had been considered to be caused by a fungus and/or other disease organisms. This disease was at one time confined to the Caribbean area, but has gradually crept into the palm population in South Florida. Evidently evidence for this disease dates from about 1893, so it is not entirely a new phenomenon:

Lethal Yellow

"Lethal yellowing (LY), a relatively new disease to Florida, has been recognized by other names in various Caribbean islands for close to 100 years. Jamaica's "west end bud rot," which appeared in the 1890's was a typical example. A small percentage of Jamaica's coconut palms was initially infected. The disease was not considered a serious problem until the 1950's when it began to spread rapidly in Jamaica and the Florida Keys. Because of Jamaica's economic dependence on the coconut, immediate steps had to be taken. In Florida, the Division of Plant Industry and the University of Florida cooperated in efforts to attempt to eradicate the disease.

As with any new disease, early research efforts focused on the cause. Areas investigated included fertilization and nutrition, fungi, bacteria, insects (weevils, borers, etc.) and nematodes. Initially a virus was thought to cause LY as no other disease causing agent could be discovered. Applications of fertilizers, fungicides, bactericides, and insecticides failed to control the disease. In Key West, 75% of the coconut palms were destroyed. Research from 1955-1965 demonstrated that LY was not a disease whose mysteries were going to be unraveled easily."

The University of Florida is studying this disease and has been trying to find palms which have a natural resistance to the phytoplasma organisms which cause the disease in ornamental and coconut palms and now is found among Texas date palms. What is interesting is that the cause of lethal yellowing has been identified as a mycoplasma-like organism. And guess what? An insect has been identified as a vector for these organisms in the Texas date palm disease. This does not necessarily mean this insect causes mycoplasma-like infection in humans. It does however show that insects have been proven to be vectors in at least some mycoplasma-like infections, in this case among date palms. It is good to read about actual research which in at least one instance has proven that an insect can cause mycoplasma-like infections:

"Lethal yellowing is found in most of the Florida areas where coconuts can be grown. There is a possibility for LY to spread outside the range of coconut palms. A disease that affected thousands of date palms (Phoenix canariensis and P. dactylifera) in southern Texas in 1979 is now thought to be the same as LY in Florida. Evidence to support this includes identical symptoms in Texas and Florida date palms, the presence of mycoplasma-like organisms, and the presence in Texas of a species of insect which has been shown to be a carrier (vector) in Florida."

More discussion on the link above and in the following two links. There is some discussion about programs to develop palms which are naturally resistant to these types of infections, especially in the case of coconut palms:

Palm lethal yellowing phytoplasma

Plant Pathology - Google Book Search

[carla]

You should know by now that I only state facts TC.
I get google alerts for new diseases ad there is a mystery fungus killing off palm trees world wide.The story is usually edited or gone a few hours later.
Why would I lie about that?

[tcmgpt13]

Carla, are you just trying to see bad things in whatever I say? I did not say you were lying. I said I was unable to find anything about a mystery fungus killing palm trees all over, because I cannot find anything. It could be that I have/had missed something, as I often do.

I have known about lethal yellowing of palm trees for quite some time and did a bit more research about it when I could not find anything about new mystery fungus issues. Lethal yellowing, until research proved this incorrect, has often been thought to be caused by a fungus. There is a fungus rot found in palms as well, which I did not discuss. I posted about what I found out about lethal yellowing as this disease now is spreading so fast. It is a real problem in South Florida, in ornamental and coconut palms. Now it is being found in Texas date palms. So far no controls have been found. I felt it was too interesting a story not to post as so many people here are interested in mycoplasma infections and morgellons. Not that the phytoplasma infections of palms is part of our possible infection with human mycoplasmas, but I thought the fact that mycoplasmas, at least in the case of the date palm in Texas, have been connected to an insect vector to be of some relevancy to morgellons since some have been diagnosed with mycoplasma infections. An insect causing any sort of mycoplasma infection I personally find of great interest as before this I have not heard of any connection to insect vectors and the spreading of mycoplasma type infections. Perhaps this will prove true of some human mycoplasma infections as well. Instead of finding that information interesting evidently you have decided to see that post as merely being generated to call you a liar about the mystery palm fungus you reported on another separate thread.

Once again, let me reiterate, so there is no misunderstanding here and it is absolutely clear. I am not calling you a liar. I would never do that nor was I thinking it. It leaves me puzzled as to why you would think that. I do not call you or anyone else here names. I am not personally attacking you or anyone else here either. I would never do that, to you especially, and I should think you would know that by now.

Originally Posted by carla

You should know by now that I only state facts TC.
I get google alerts for new diseases ad there is a mystery fungus killing off palm trees world wide.The story is usually edited or gone a few hours later.
Why would I lie about that?

[carla]

Maybe I'm a bit too sensitive then.I do apologise .
The links I read relating to it being a mystery fungus have all been removed but I did read them
I will be sure to copy and paste the next one I see.
xxx

[tcmgpt13]

Thanks Carla, life as we know it now kinda of does make us sensitive. We all seem on edge lately, just waiting for some news, any news...Calling the CDC...calling, calling, calling. Oh, sorry, it's just an echo here. LOL

Don't worry about posting the fungus palm news. I believe you.

I always, like that simple song line, "don't worry, be happy"...helps me when I get knots inside which lately, given the state of the world in general, is more frequent than I would like.

tcmxxx

[Robin]

hey carla ,tc
i wonder if the yellowing has anything to do with the nematodes they use in the soil.could be another side affect of using something that they had no idea what the consequences could be!
Love Robin

[carla]

Pat just sent me this,TC.It is very long winded(nothing personal Pat)but you can get the general drift with a quick scan.
It is about an unknown fungus spreading rampantly through the UK.
It also refers to the US infection and some research that is going on in the US.
Hi Robin.You might find this interesting too.
I think there is a connection with morgellons somewhere.
Jo ,Will you have a quick peek for me.
Remember,like Pat said,the government are spending 25 million pounds to research it so it has to be a big problem.

Whats a Chlamydospore Anyone?

http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pra/pram.pdf

[tcmgpt13]

Great article Pat forwarded to you Carla, but I have also used some shorter articles to get a handle on this disease. As you say it would take quite some time to read all of the pdf file discussion, but certainly that is the definitive source for Phytophthora ramorum.

Phytophthora - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Phytophthoras are mostly pathogens of dicotyledons, and are relatively host-specific parasites."

The dicotyledon are the two embryonic leaves of flowering plants, the ones which appear before the adult plant leaves form. They are usually fleshy and contain some nourishment for the plant itself in the early stages of life.

Since this is a disease which is host-specific it may only involve some plants (hopefully) and not all plants which grow. It is a fungus and there are other fungi in this family which infect different plant species.

"Other important Phytophthora diseases are:

* Phytophthora alni – causes alder root rot
* Phytophthora cactorum – causes rhododendron root rot affecting rhododendrons, azaleas and causes bleeding canker in hardwood trees
* Phytophthora cinnamomi - causes cinnamon root rot affecting woody ornamentals including arborvitae, azalea, Chamaecyparis, dogwood, forsythia, Fraser fir, hemlock, Japanese holly, juniper, Pieris, rhododendron, Taxus, white pine, and American chestnut
* Phytophthora fragariae - causes red root rot affecting strawberries
* Phytophthora kernoviae - pathogen of beech and rhododendron, also occurring on other trees and shrubs including oak, and holm oak. First seen in Cornwall, UK, in 2003.[3]
* Phytophthora palmivora - causes fruit rot in coconuts and betel nuts
* Phytophthora ramorum – infects over 60 plant genera and over 100 host species - causes Sudden Oak Death[4]
* Phytophthora quercina – causes oak death
* Phytophthora sojae - causes soybean root rot"

From the PDF file posted by Carla:

"HOSTS (these are the host for Phytophthora ramorum--these plants are listed in the PDF file more specifically)

Phytophthora ramorum has a wide natural host range. At present, species in
over 70 different genera representing 33 different families of plants have been
recorded as natural hosts. A full list of natural hosts, together with
geographical details and family is given in Appendix 1."

In this PDF file I only find indoor ornamental palms from nurseries hosting the disease and I can only hope it is not being discovered in palms which grow outside. BTW here is the wiki discussion of the phytophthora palmivora which does cause a problem in palms and arecas (this was discovered in 1917 so hopefully it will not be wiping out all coconuts if it has already been around that long):

Phytophthora palmivora - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phytophthora ramorum was only recently been discovered in California. The PDF source says it may have started in Asia, but there is some uncertainty about this origin mentioned. Here is another source discussing its origin:

Sudden oak death - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"It was first discovered in California in 1995 when large numbers of tan oaks (Lithocarpus densiflorus) died mysteriously, and was described as a new species of Phytophthora in 2000. It has subsequently been found in many other areas including Britain, Germany, and some other U.S. states, either accidentally introduced in nursery stock, or already present undetected.

As mentioned above, P. ramorum does not kill every plant that can be used as a host, and it is these plants that are most important in the epidemiology of the disease as they act as sources of inoculum.[5] In the USA bay laurel seems to be the main source of inoculum in forests. Green waste, such as leaf litter and tree stumps are also capable of supporting P. ramorum as a saprotroph and acting as a source of inoculum. Because P. ramorum is able to infect many ornamental plants, it can be transmitted by ornamental plant movement."

issg Database: Ecology of Phytophthora ramorum

"Until 2000, Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death, was undiscovered and unnamed. This fungus is the cause of much concern in North America and Europe due to three factors: (i) the high level of local destruction it causes in California, (ii) the lack of knowledge of its epidemiology (due to its recent discovery), and (iii) its high prevalence in nurseries (which increases the potential of spread to a new location and/or country). The fungus has an extensive host range, covering many plant genera and several families and including treees and shrubs and woody and herbaceous perennials. Phytophthora ramorum causes canker development, shoot drooping and leaf blight. Fungal spores spread to new locations mainly by the nursery trade and are spread locally by vectors: soil, water and articles associated with humans."

Evidently the main problem with this disease is that it is found in nurseries which are a major source of its spread in the US and into other countries. So far it is not a major problem in UK, but as there are growing conditions in some areas of the UK which are quite similar to California and Oregon there is some concern that it could become a major problem in UK. So perhaps for once government has gotten it right and is trying to prevent a major outbreak before it starts rather than after. Imagine that. Foresight. If only that would spread like wild fire we could all rest more easily.

Data source for plant diseases which may assist in more in depth searches for plant diseases:

USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine

[tcmgpt13]

Here is some more info on the fungus Phytophthora ramorum. This source states this fungus is not harmful to human or animals, except maybe when it effects a food plant and kills off an important human food source, thereby starving the population (as happened when another type of Phytophthora killed off potatoes in Ireland). So far the coconut palm is not included as having this particular type of Phytophthora:

CAPS Surveys, DPI - FDACS

"Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - Phytophthora ramorum, a fungus, is responsible for causing SOD. SOD is not harmful to humans or animals, but is a serious fungal disease that may be deadly to certain oaks and other hardwoods, and also adversely affects other plants including camellias, rhododendrons and viburnums. In 2004, SOD was confirmed in several locations in California, and Florida immediately inspected its nurseries, halted the importation of all nursery stock from California, and issued a stop sale order on imported affected plants. The Florida CAPS team assisted in the initial nursery inspections. Six nursery locations were found with infected California plants, and the material was appropriately contained and destroyed. State Inspectors continue to monitor several locations. Please visit the DPI - Sudden Oak Death Web Site for more information."

Here is an entire site dedicated to Sudden Oak Death (also kills other plants) caused by this fungus:

Sudden Oak Death Information, DPI - FDACS

[Katinka]

I have a rhododendron sitting in my garden. It blooms only once a year,
very nicely, around may/june.

After the blossoms have withered (hope this is right word) I pluck them off.
If I think about it I have noticed that all leaves had blackbrown spots and were shriveling. I plucked them off also.

I looked up a german site on Phytophthora ramorum it looks just the same.

After that time (around june) my Morgellons symptoms started with head itching and a "funny" feeling..hard to describe..like something growing.

They say this fungus isn't harmful to humans but who knows maybe it is.