Yellow Leaf Disease (Phytoplasma )

Symptoms

• Yellowing of tips of leaflets in 2 or 3 leaves of outermost whorl.
• Brown necrotic streaks run parallel to veins in unfolded leaves.
• The yellowing extends to the middle of the lamina. Tips of the chlorotic leaves dry up. In advanced stage all the leaves become yellow.
• Yellowing of leaves is conspicuous during October to December.
• Finally the crown leaves fall off leaving a bare trunk. Root tips turn black and gradually rot.

Management

• Provide irrigation during summer months
• Grow cover crops in the garden.
• Remove affected palms.
• Improve drainage conditions in the garden.
• Apply organic manure @ 12 kg each of compost and green leaves per palm per year.
• Apply 160 g of rock phosphate per palm in the affected garden.
• During early stages of the disease treat the palms with 500 ppm tetracycline (5 ml/10 litre if water) by spraying and soil drenching.
• Spray Dimethoate 30 EC (2 ml / litre of water) to control the insect vector.