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Hillsborough Workshop To Offer Update On Palms

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By NEIL JOHNSON

njohnson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2008

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Extension service will offer residents the latest information this morning about a disease attacking cabbage palms in southern Hillsborough and northern Manatee counties.

The disease first showed up in Canary Island and other types of date palms in the Tampa Bay area about two years ago. Since then, it has spread to cabbage palms - the Florida state tree, also known as sabal palms.

The first sign a tree has been infected is when it begins dropping its berries prematurely, followed by the lower or oldest fronds turning brown or gray. Eventually, the disease moves to the leaf spear and kills the tree.

The disease is Texas Phoenix Palm Decline. The disease that has spread to cabbage palms is caused by the same type of bacteria that kills the date palms.

Scientists think the disease is spread by an insect but haven't found the culprit.

University of Florida Extension service personnel in Hillsborough plan to place sticky cards in palms where infected sabal palms have been found to capture insects to see whether they can find one carrying the disease.

Unless an antibiotic is injected into an infected tree, the disease is fatal for the palm.

If you have an infected tree and don't intend to treat it, the palm should be cut down.

The public workshop will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at the Extension office at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner.

Register online at www.prohort.net or by calling (813) 744-5519, ext. 104.

Contact reporter Neil Johnson at (813) 259-7731.

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