Symptoms

• A fatal disease caused by Phytoplasma.
• Affects palms of all ages and spread rapidly
• Affected palms die within months (4-10 months)
• Lower and mid whorl leaves exhibit yellowing which subsequently spreads to inner whorls leaving the spindle leaf .
• The whole foliage become yellow and necrotic within months .
• Developing and opened inflorescence, rachis and flowers become black
• Female flowers are severely reduced
• All nuts fall prematurely.
• Basal regions of leaves rot resulting in drooping and falling of leaves in quick succession .
• Sometimes leaves show bronzing and fall off in quick succession without hanging around .
• Spear leaves and growing point rots resulting in the death of the palms .

Control Measures

• Remove and destroy diseased palms.
• Grow resistant variety - Malayan Yellow Dwarf.
• Adopt management followed for Root (wilt) disease