The plant disease, lethal bronzing, is spreading through Florida and killing our iconic palm trees. Because it is growing throughout the Sunshine State, palm trees on the First Coast could be in danger of dying.
Cases of the disease have been reported since 2006. The first reported case was in Tampa.
"The epicenter, so to speak of the disease, is primarily central west Florida…It’s spread by an insect so potentially we could be affected by the insect,” said Larry Figart, an Urban Forestry Extension Agent in Jacksonville.
Lethal bronzing is caused by a bacteria that spreads through insects feasting on the sap of palm trees. As they move from tree to tree, they can spread the bacteria. Once it spreads, it moves up the tree, clogging its circulatory system and cuts off its nutrient supply.
Figar said the best way to spot is by "that upper most, top most leaf that comes out, that turns brown, everything else is green. And then it starts to turn brown from the bottom up."
Like human diseases, it takes an antibiotic to prevent the tree-killing disease. However, it's expensive and can hurt your palm trees. Figart said the antibiotic is only recommended if lethal bronzing is known to be in the area.
Within the last 5 years, he's only seen two cases in Jacksonville and thinks, "there are a lot of other diseases that are more prevalent here."
Palms can turn brown from other causes. The most common is potassium deficiency.
There is no cure for lethal bronzing, but scientists are researching ways to stop it from growing. However, some say the threat of global warming is creating new paths for the disease to spread.