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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Biosecurity
  4. Biosecurity in Australia
  5. Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)
  6. NAQS target pests, diseases and weeds
  7. Lethal diseases of coconut

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)
    • Co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
    • Aircraft arriving on the Australian mainland from Torres Strait
    • NAQS target pests, diseases and weeds
    • Moving goods to, from and within Torres Strait
    • Significant events in the history of NAQs
      • Celebrating 30 years of co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
      • Commemorating 25 years of NAQS
    • Shipping and yachting in the Torres Strait
    • Map of NAQS zones

Lethal diseases of coconut

Phytoplasmas

What to look for

Depending on the disease, look for:

  • fronds turning brown and hanging down the stem before falling
  • dry rot developing in the newly expanding spear
  • the premature dropping of fruit of all ages, ripe or otherwise
  • rotting and blackening of newly opened flowering shoots.

What you can do

  • Do not move plants, plant material (particularly coconut seedlings or foliage) or soil out of the Torres Strait Protected Zone to the Torres Strait Permanent Biosecurity Monitoring Zone, or from either zone to mainland Australia without a permit and an inspection by a Department of Agriculture and Water Resources biosecurity officer. ​
  • Report any signs of suspect coconut plant diseases to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources by phone on +61 7 4241 7800 or email NAQS.

warning sign 

Profile

There are several lethal diseases of coconut and other palm trees around the world caused by phytoplasmas, which are unique disease-causing agents related to bacteria, but which behave like viruses in many ways. The phytoplasmas are spread from tree to tree by insects. Once infected, the tree quickly declines and dies only several months after showing first symptoms.

Identification

Different phytoplasmas cause slightly different symptoms. In the case of diseases closest to Australia, fronds turn brown and hang down the stem before later falling, eventually leaving only the crownless stem. Dry rot develops in the newly expanding spear, progressing downwards to the growing point where foul-smelling internal secondary rot develops. A common early symptom is premature dropping of fruits of all ages, whether they are ripe or not. Another is rotting and blackening of newly opened flowering shoots (inflorescences).
First, the older fronds of affected trees turn brown and hang down
First, the older fronds of affected trees turn brown and hang down
later, damage becomes more extensive and the growing point can rot
Later, damage becomes more extensive and the growing point can rot

Distribution

Four important coconut diseases are found in countries to Australia’s north. The closest threat to Australia is a new disease recently discovered in Papua New Guinea. This phytoplasma is devastating coconut production in northern New Guinea. Another phytoplasma has been spreading through coconut plantings in parts of central Indonesia for much longer.

Threat

Coconuts have a high aesthetic and monetary value as landscape and ornamental plants in northern Australia. Although palms are not grown as a cash crop in Australia, they are important ornamental garden plants and are also a significant part of Australia’s tourism industry in the tropics.

Keep a Top Watch!

These diseases would be most likely to move with seedlings or with palm foliage carrying infective insects. Seed transmission may also be possible. Biosecurity is the only way to stop the disease from spreading. Watch out for any spreading sickness of coconuts or other palms and if you suspect something, contact the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources immediately.
An early symptom can be a rotting of both male and female flowers in the inflorescences
An early symptom can be rotting of both male and female flowers in the inflorescences

Eventually, only a crownless stem remains
Eventually, only a crownless stem remains

Report sick-looking coconut trees.

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Call 1800 900 090

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Last updated: 04 November 2019

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.