Phytophthora Bud Rot of Washingtonia Palm. R. A. Atilano, Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Fort Lauderdale 33314. Plant Dis. 66:517-519. Accepted for publication 22 December 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-517.

A previously undescribed bud rot of 5-yr-old Washingtonia palms in Florida was shown to be caused by Phytophthora palmivora. The symptoms included wilt; eventual desiccation of the youngest leaves to a straw brown color; and tan-colored, necrotic lesions with brown margins in interior petiole bases adjacent to putrid, gray bud tissue. Mature leaves remained healthy for several weeks after death of the bud. The pathogen was isolated from diseased palms and surrounding nursery soil. Two- to three-year-old palms inoculated with palm or soil isolates developed symptoms identical to those observed in naturally infected palms, and the pathogen was easily reisolated.

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