Coconut Lethal YellowingIdentification & Treatment Guide 2026
Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae (16SrIV group) · Family: Acholeplasmataceae
Coconut lethal yellowing is caused by a phytoplasma spread by planthoppers. It causes premature nut drop, flower blackening, progressive yellowing from lower to upper fronds, and death within 3-6 months. There is no cure. Plant resistant varieties (Malayan Dwarf, Maypan hybrid), remove infected palms, and apply oxytetracycline trunk injections to slow (not cure) disease in valuable individual palms.
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criticalCoconut Lethal Yellowing
- Affects
- inflorescencesfruitfrondstrunk
- Peak Season
- Year-round in tropical regions; spread tracks planthopper population dynamics
- Spread Risk
- Moderate
- Spread By
- Planthopper vectors (Haplaxius crudus in Americas, Diostrombus mkurangai in Africa)
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Symptoms: What does Coconut Lethal Yellowing look like?
Visual identification guide — tap each stage for details
Premature nut fall and flower blackening
Immature coconuts drop prematurely without obvious external cause. Newly opened inflorescences (spadices) turn black and necrotic instead of producing normal flowers. These early symptoms are often missed.
Progressive frond yellowing from lower canopy upward
Lower fronds turn bright yellow, progressing upward through the canopy. The characteristic yellow color gives the disease its name. Older yellowed fronds brown and hang down.
Crown collapse and death
All fronds yellow and collapse. The growing point (apical meristem) dies. The entire crown drops, leaving a bare trunk ('telephone pole' appearance). Death occurs 3-6 months from first symptoms.
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