Bud rot — Coconut

Symptoms

The earliest visible symptom is yellowing or paling of one or two of the youngest leaves surrounding the central spindle. The spindle leaf loses its normal green colour and becomes pale yellow, yellowish brown or brown. Black or dark brown spots may develop on the spindle leaf. The basal portion of the affected spindle becomes water-soaked, soft and rotten. The spindle leaf begins to wilt, wither, break near its base and droop downwards. The affected spindle can often be pulled out with a gentle tug because its basal tissues have rotted. The inner leaf bases and soft tissues of the crown decay into a slimy mass, often accompanied by a foul smell. As the disease progresses, the younger leaves adjacent to the spindle also droop and fall one after another. The crown progressively loses its central leaves, leaving mainly the older outer leaves. In advanced cases, the growing point (meristem) is destroyed, the entire crown collapses and the palm dies.