One new pest & One old way to control pests

Seminar for Volusia County Extension

Carol Cloud Bailey

A palm in

trouble

A palm in trouble

A palm in trouble

• Phoenix canariensis located in Stuart Fl., east of US1 near the St Lucie River.

• It is at least 15 years old.• The irrigation system runs 3 X week, 20

minutes per zone. • The lawn service sprays for weeds when

needed.• The client has not applied fertilizer in over 3

years.

A palm in trouble

• The decline was noticed in 3rd week of June.

A palm in trouble• Three weeks

previously, FP&L dug a trench about 12” wide, 12 – 30” deep & about 10 feet from the trunk.

• The palm dropped most of its fruit over the last few weeks.

• There was a lightening strike in the neighborhood. There are no wounds visible.

A palm in trouble

• An email to Dr. Monica L. Elliott. Professor, Plant Pathology and Associate Center Director. Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center confirmed my supposition.

• There is probably a phytoplasma at work.

Is it LY or TPPD?

Does it matter?

A palm in trouble• The symptoms described are typical for a

palm phytoplasma disease & they are:– fruit drop, flower death, more dead leaves than

normal – and missing spear leaf. However, can’t confirm in

this case.– Phoenix canariensis is susceptible to LY and

TPPD • The treatment for either disease is injection of

the antibiotic oxytetracycline HCl (OTC).• Susceptible palm species: Phoenix, Syagrus

and Sabal.

One old way to control pest

Soil solarization

Soil solarization

• Solar heating of moistened soil covered by a clear plastic film

• A nonchemical, hydrothermal used for soil disinfestation

• A look at a trial by Dan O. Chellemi, Ph.D. Plant Pathologist, USDA

Soil Solarization

• Previous trial application to vegetable crops grown on raised, polyethylene-mulched beds (tomato, pepper, etc.)

• Current application to cut flower fields

Proceedure

• Prepare beds for next crop• Install drip tape• Cover with UV-stable plastic• Seal edges with soil and glue• Keep soil very moist; irrigation applied

every other night• Leave plastic in place for 6 to 8 weeks

Soil SolarizationPest control results from previous research

Pest Solarization Methyl bromide Nutsedge Good ExcellentOther weeds Spp. specific ExcellentFusarium Moderate ModerateSclerotium rolfsii Moderate ModeratePhytophthora blight

Poor Poor

Bacterial wilt Poor PoorRoot-knot nematode

Poor Excellent

Soil Solarization

• Results reported by grower– Cost savings over

fumigation, $3,000 to $4,000 per acre vs $300 to $500 per acre

– Better control of some weeds

– Good community relations

Thank You