Identification Symptoms

  • The fungus Phytophthora palmivora. P meadii causing koleroga in bunches also pass on to bud and cause rotting.
  • The first symptom of the disease is the discoloration of the spindle from the natural light green color to yellow and then brown.
  •  Infection spreads to young leaves which rot rapidly. As the infection spreads inside the bud the growing point of the stem also rots resulting in the death of the palm.
  • The spindle slumps and can be drawn out with a gentle pull.
  • The outer leaves then become yellow, droop and drop off one by one leaving a bare stem. Secondary organisms colonize the rotting bud and convert it into a slimy mass which would emit a foetid smell.