While you may already be familiar with the palm disease lethal yellowing, which first turned up in Florida in Sarasota and Manatee Counties about a decade ago, scientists are starting to spread the word about another disease impacting palm trees, mostly natives, called lethal bronzing.
It first showed up in Palm Beach County a few years ago, and is killing species like sabal or cabbage palms, silver date palms, and date palms. And while lethal yellowing can be fatal, once infected palms with lethal bronzing always die. But, researchers say there is a way to protect trees using an antibiotic. We're joined by Brian Bahder, he’s assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida, to get the latest on this new threat to Florida palms.
