Identification Symptoms

Both the young and old plants are affected but young palms are highly susceptible.Symptoms appear on the basal portions of the stem as small discolored depression during initial stages.
Later the spots coalesce and cracks develop on the stem which eventually produces hollows upto varying depths along the infected portion.
Crown of affected adult palms get reduced in size followed by reduction in yield. Finally a dark brown liquid oozes out from cracks. Causal organism: Thielaviopsis paradoxa (de Seyenes) Hohn. Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia . Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia.Epidemiology: More serious in kharif season , also more serious in case of poor drainage areas.