Reading Palms: Texas Phoenix palm decline is on the rise in the Sunshine State.

摘要

Phytoplasmas are cell wall-less bacteria that can be detected most readily using molecular techniques. They are transmitted from plant to plant by insect vectors. Until recently, the only Florida palm disease caused by a phytoplasma was lethal yellowing. In October 2006, a second phytoplasma disease was confirmed in west-central Florida. Phoenix palms that were displaying lethal yellowing-type symptoms from Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough counties have been sampled. DNA analysis determined the palms were infected with a phytoplasma known to cause Texas Phoenix palm decline disease on P. canariensis (Canary Island date palm) in the Corpus Christi area of Texas. This phytoplasma is related to, but genetically distinct from, the one that causes lethal yellowing.