Palm Diseases

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Graphiola leaf spot, also referred to as "false smut," is a foliar pathogen of certain palm species. In Florida, it is primarily a cosmetic disease and does not adversely affect plant growth. Nutrient deficiencies, such as potassium or magnesium deficiency, are much more serious palm health problems than this disease, especially for Phoenix species.

Brian W. Bahder and Ericka E. Helmick

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Jiaming Yu andMonica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

This document is PP278, one of a series of the Plant Pathology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2010. Revised August 2013 and January 2017.

Timothy K. Broschat and Monica L. Elliott

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

This fact sheet is limited to those diseases where the pathogens only infect (invade) and cause spots and blights of the leaf blade. Other diseases may cause death of leaflets and leaf segments but are actually the result of a pathogen infecting the leaf petiole or rachis.

Monica L. Elliott, Timothy Broschat, andTimothy K. Broschat
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

This document is about Ganoderma butt rot, a lethal disease affecting all palm species, caused by the fungus Ganoderma zonatum. It describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and life cycle of the pathogen, emphasizing the lack of effective treatments or preventive measures. First publication Date: November 2000.

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Thielaviopsis paradoxa is a fungus that can infect any part of a palm and so can cause numerous diseases. In Florida, the two most frequent (and usually lethal) Thielaviopsis diseases observed in the landscape and field nursery are a bud (heart) rot and trunk rot.

Brian W. Bahder and Ericka E. Helmick

A UF/IFAS numbered publication. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Braham Dhillon and Seemanti Chakrabarti

Palms are an integral part of the urban landscape in Florida. Ganoderma butt rot of palms, a disease caused by the wood-decaying white-rot fungus Ganoderma zonatum, is one of the major biotic concerns for the landscape industry. The lethal disease is prevalent across palm-growing regions in the US, and all palm species are believed to be susceptible to this fungus. It may take six months to a year for the diseased palm to die once the initial symptoms appear. But with the availability of a disease diagnostic assay, this fungal pathogen can be detected using saw dust samples collected from declining palms, several months before symptoms appear. Collect good quality samples by following these steps and understanding the caveats associated with each step.

Brian W. Bahder and Ericka E. Helmick

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Brian Bahder andEricka E. Helmick

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Plant Systems