Lethal Yellowing Disease of Palms in Antigua

Publication Date

Wed, 14 May 2014, 00:00

Last Updated

May 13, 2014, 9:01 a.m.

Report Number

ATG-02/1

Country

Antigua and Barbuda

Pest Id

Palm lethal yellowing phytoplasma - (PHYP56)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

This disease affects coconut and a range of ornamental palm species. Ornamental species affected were inclusive of bismark, royal and foxtail palms, the latter having no prior history of susceptibility to this disease.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: subject to official control

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

This disease has been found affecting varying species of palms islandwide both on the Antigua mainland as well as on off-shore island, Long Island. To date, there have been no reports of the disease in Barbuda.

Summary

In 2005, coconut palms across Antigua and Barbuda - inclusive of off-shore island, Long Island - were tested for and found to be free of the lethal yellowing disease. This work was done under the aegis of the Coconut Industry Board in Jamaica and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

In January 2012, reports were received of palm trees dying in northern areas of Antigua. Ensuing surveys and laboratory testing during the latter part of 2012 confirmed the disease to be the lethal yellowing disease associated with subgroup 16SrIV-A phytoplasmas. Samples tested were collected from the mainland, Antigua, as well as off-shore island, Long Island. No samples were collected from Barbuda. Some of the samples from both locations were found to be positive for the phytoplasma.

The results of the tests done in 2012 on samples of palm trees that appeared to be diseased can be accessed in New Disease Reports (2014)29,12.http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044.029.012 - Myrie et al., First Report of lethal yellowing disease associated with subgroup 16SrIV-A phytoplasmas in Antigua, West Indies.

Contact for info

IPPC Official Contact Point for Antigua and Barbuda.

Report files

En

Website