Identification Symptoms

  • Palms of all age are liable to be attacked but normally young palms are more susceptible, particularly during monsoon when the temperature is low and humidity is very high. In seedlings, the spear leaf turns pale and comes off with a gentle pull.
  • The earlier symptom is the yellowing of one or two younger leaves. Black spots appear on spindle leaves. Basal tissues of the leaf rot quickly and can be easily separated from the crown. Infection spreads to the older leaves, causing sunken leaf spots covering the entire leaf blade.
  • Spot margins are irregular and water soaked, and when the leaves are unfolded the characteristic irregular spots are conspicuous on the blade.
  • In the later stages the spindle withers and drops down.
  • The tender leaf base and soft tissues of the crown rot into a slimy mass of decayed material emitting foul smell.
  • Ultimately the entire crown falls down and the palm dies.