Deadly Disease Striking Coconut Palms pg.2

According to Visintainer of Hawaii Coconut Protectors, the disease is now epidemic in Hawaii. He said the University of Hawaii estimates it has killed 20 to 25% of the coconut palms on Maui’s north shore. The disease spreads in aerosol droplets, by insects, driving rain, infected tree stock and contaminated tools.

His company, Hawaii Coconut Protectors, and the University of Hawaii suggest a four-step approach for dealing with coconut heart rot disease. The first is education – recognizing diseased trees. To prevent its further spread, all pruning tools should be thoroughly disinfected with alcohol or chlorine bleach. Healthy trees can be given some protection by injection. Finally, all infected trees and their rubbish should be removed and burned or buried.

Terry Nutt of the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals suggested that we can increase the disease resistance of the trees by keeping them as healthy as possible. Of course, that advice applies to all plants.

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