They discover what may be the “beginning of the end” of the “lethal tan” of palm trees

A group of scientists of the University of Florida (UF) has identified a chemical compound present in the palms affected by the call “lethal tan” which may be key to eradicating a disease that affects more than 20 species of those trees in southern USA and Caribbean.

Deadly blight (LB), a bacterial disease, is responsible for “tens of millions of dollars” of losses to nursery and landscape businesses in Florida alone, according to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). , in English) of the UF.

Institute scientist Brian Bahder has led research that has found a key chemical compound, associated with LB-infected palm trees, that alerts nearby palm trees to danger. It is a compound that “has antimicrobial properties in other systems,” he said.

“These findings basically showed that LB-infected palm trees send a signal that causes nearby palm trees to generate a chemical compound that can protect the healthy plant from infection.” the scientist deepened.

“This find possibly symbolizes the beginning of the end”he added.

The expert stated that the discovery could lead to disease control methods based on the plants’ own natural defenses and would thus eliminate costly antibiotic treatments, such as the one based on oxytetracycline, which is applied every three months to plants. plants near a diseased one.

As IFAS/UF points out, currently when a palm tree is infected with LB, the only option left is to eliminate it in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

The findings of this study, which has already been published in the scientific journal MDPI Plants, have the potential to be applied in defending against a variety of different infections in palm trees, and possibly against diseases in other plants.

“These compounds are not exclusive to LB infection. They are ubiquitous in plants and are used to deter insects, attract beneficial insects, fight infection and communicate to other plants that there is a problem.” explained the expert.

The first case of lb in Florida was detected in 2006

The first case of LB in Florida was identified in Tampa, on the west coast of the state, in 2006. The insect vector was the leafhopper Haplaxius crudus, as discovered by scientists in 2021.

“We are not sure of its provenance, but LB has been originally documented since Texas to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and it is probable that this is the region of origin” of the insect that brought the pathogen to Florida, the scientist said.

In Florida there are twelve native species of palm trees, but in addition another 38 species of this tree grow in its territory, which is seen as a symbol of the so-called “sunshine state” like its beaches and pink flamingos, ubiquitous on tourist posters.

Bahder explains that the million-dollar losses generated since then are due to “costs associated with removal, replacement, treatment and testing for disease in palm trees”.

“So far, tens of thousands of palm trees have died from the infection,” asserted.

After his discoveries, the scientist hopes to find more funds that will allow him to expand his research and thus find alternative treatments.

“Can we expose large groups of palm trees to the compound produced by infected plants and trick them into producing this type of defensive compound and increase their natural resistance?” the expert wondered about one of the main aspects to be investigated in the future.

The other key point is whether the “defensive compound” of threatened palms can serve as a remedy for their infected counterparts.

“Finding this natural compound and based on its physical and chemical characteristics, we are optimistic that this compound could become a possible cure for the infection in the future.”the scientist asserted.

Source: EFE