Imagine coming to Hawaii and realize that most of the coconut trees on the islands have become extinct. That would be like discovering that the flowers associated with Hawaii - hibiscus and orchids - have disappeared from the landscape of this remote tropical paradise thousands of miles from the mainland in mid-Pacific. An insidious and devastating "cancer" is decimating coconut trees in Hawaii at an alarming rate - 15 percent of the trees have been destroyed by a deadly pathogen known as Phytophthora katsurae, which causes heart rot of coconut. What are the symptoms of Phytophthora loss? Abnormally small, due almost walnuts was a common sign of the disease early. Infected fruits have dark spots, stains and rots. brown irregular expansion of the infected areas often creates circular green spots or islands of green tissue surrounded by sick. Soaking water is also common in large immature fruit and appears as dark green, fatty tissue bordering the diseased areas. sick young fruit less than three inches long are usually brown, without spots. Internally, the shell of the largest infected fruit is reddish-brown to red. Infected meat or endosperm is white, cream or light brown. The pathogen can get into the nuts mature as they grow through germination pore in the stem end of the nut. The first signs of young or mature trees are wilting, bleaching and death of the youngest leaf. Unfurled leaves lance can also die early in the course of the disease. dead leaves are abnormally folded, but remain attached to the trunk for a couple of weeks, falling on or between the older leaves green. In the following months, more leaves die and fall, leaving a few lower leaves. The roots and lower trunk tissue stay healthy and functional for many months, and will continue to provide the lower leaves with nutrients and moisture. Eventually, all the fall leaves, stems without leaves production. Less frequently, older leaves die first, resulting in trees with only a few young leaves, upright. Because young leaves are vertically oriented, infected plants appear rigid. By the death of the timesheet can be seen, the internal heart rot is already in an advanced stage. These diseased trees with large bad areas involving most of the terminal bud. Killing only the tip ultimately becoming kills the tree. dried fruit rotting and diseased heart, followed by plant death, have been associated with a species of Phytophthora. The coconut pathogen produces abundant and characteristic sexual spores in the host tissue. Each spore is produced on a stem cell that has distinctive inflammation in the form of blisters and a long term basis. Beating PathogenOnce trees are infected, death from the disease appears to be inevitable, and several hundred trees have been lost over Hawaii since 1970. Because the host range of Phytophthora appears limited to coconut, eradication and exclusion are viable options for control. All infected trees and the nuts should be destroyed by incineration or deep burial. The prompt removal of infected trees will reduce the likelihood of soil contamination with the pathogen. Sexual spores of most species of Phytophthora can survive in soil without host plants. The removal of diseased material will also prevent the spread of the pathogen to healthy trees. Many diseased trees have been observed in the moist areas of the windward side of Kauai, the Big Island and Oahu and Maui. Producers should avoid collecting coconut planting material of these areas. As mature trees can be infected, however, remain without symptoms for many months, a careful selection of clean nuts and healthy seedlings and trees is necessary. Collection of plants or young plants should be grown in relatively dry areas to minimize the establishment of the pathogen in the new facility. Because the epidemiology of the disease in Hawaii is not known, the exact means by which the pathogen is spread not specifically known. Based on studies of other Phytophthora diseases, however, wind-driven rain, they feed on insects and movement or activities of other small animals are probably important factors in the spread of the disease. Humidity promotes strong growth, spore production and the spread of the pathogen, and development of Phytophthora disease. Sexual spores of the pathogen are produced in large quantities in the skins and stems sick. These thick-walled resistant structures allow the pathogen to survive for long periods of latency. The pathogen is seed-borne and sexual spores are common in the skin of infected fruit. The removal of nut clusters and pruning of leaves of large trees have probably helped spread the disease. microscopic spores of diseased tissue contaminated cutting tools and infect healthy trees during the subsequent pruning operations. Moreover, wounding the stem cutting green leaves exposed plant tissue highly susceptible to infection by pathogens. When the tree as possible, cutting should be done during dry weather. Tools should be cleaned and then dipped in a disinfectant after pruning operations have been completed each tree, especially at sites known to have the disease. Submit fungicides 2E (metalaxyl), Dithane M-45 (mancozeb), Aliette (fosethyl-Al), and Trub (ethazole) is known to be effective protection against other Phytophthora diseases, but are ineffective to treat the trees with advanced decay the terminal bud or heart. limited control of the disease in the early stages can be achieved by removing infected fruit on the trees have no leaves youth dead, then the protection of the surface of the wound with a pruning sealant, which prevents progression disease in the trunk. A good plan is to plant coconut trees more frequently. The life of a coconut tree can be only 15 to 25 years with this disease in Hawaii, so young trees should be planted at regular intervals. From Genesis to the epidemic ProportionsCoconut trees had been relatively free of the disease in Hawaii, before the discovery of Phytophthora katsurae in 1971 by Dr. Minoru Aragaki in a sample collected in Wailua, Kauai, according to the University of Hawaii College Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) in Honolulu. Infected trees died within a year. Aragaki and Dr. Janice Uchida worked in the disease over the years. During the decade of 1980, Phytophthora found on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island as well. Interisland movement of nuts, seeds and large trees, as well as tree trimming operations, probably contributed to the escalation of the disease of epidemic proportions. Fearful that a centuries-old icon in Hawaii could be extinct in the not too distant future, experts here have launched a concerted effort to combat heart rot of coconut. Philippe Visintainer, owner and operator of Hawaii Coconut Protectors on Maui, is leading the battle against Phytophthora with unabashed zeal. "The University of Hawaii, Kauai began research in the late 80's," Visintainer said. "Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai in 1992 and destroyed the research plot. Nothing was done to control the disease in the environment until it took over the project in the late 90's. I was running a tropical plantation in Maui. Coconut trees planted many properties, and I realized that some of the trees were dying. I was worried about her, so I talked with the University of Hawaii, the Department of Agriculture and other specialists of pathogens. "Visintainer invited experts from around the world to Maui to help establish research plots. We experimented with various formulas to combat the pathogen. Visintainer has been on the board of the Maui Farm Bureau for about six years. As part of the board, called for a bill in the Hawaii State Legislature in 2000 to expand research on coconut heart rot. The project was approved and $ 10,000 was allocated for the project. Visintainer realized that research on Phytophthora would be hampered, if not wage a war against the pathogen. Make a commitment, "I stopped working on the plantation and started a company called Hawaii Coconut Protectors," Visintainer said. "We have been airing a video on public television throughout the islands, highlighting the spread of heart rot of coconut and what we are doing to combat it. Our focus is to educate the public about the pathogen. We met with people in the industry landscape in conjunction with the University of Hawaii. We conducted the research. Program offered a shot at the state level that protects the pathogen coconut trees. Other than that, we are promoting the eradication. In the coming years, we want to implement an eradication program through a grant from the federal government. We have not applied for a grant, however, because it is a good time to ask for money. "The formula of the injection has been a success, Visintainer. He has been working with hotels, resorts, condominiums and private landowners in Hawaii. Visintainer also being sought from Maui County to act against the pathogen. His company has developed a formula based on phosphorous acid. Visintainer refers to it as the focus of increased nutrients. The injection promotes the overall health of a coconut tree, and fruitful. At the same time creating an environment in the heart of the palm to repel the pathogen. "It injects trees at breast height, and the formula is systemic, so the tree will lead to the formula to the top of the leaves and down into the heart of the palm in about two to four weeks, depending on the tree, "Visintainer said. "We achieved a 95 percent rate of success with healthy trees. We're not sure how the pathogen spreads either through rodents, tree trimming, or insects. It seems that the wind-driven rain is an important factor. It moves with the wind and rain, and gets into the tree and works its way into the heart of the palm. "Visintainer usually save between five and 15 percent of infected trees. Most times, while examining the trees, and people have realized they have a problem, the trees are rotten. Visintainer nothing can be done in that time. There are 350 species worldwide pathogen, and has invaded many different plants, ranging from the cones of oak trees. Visintainer speculated that the pathogen arrived in Hawaii, when travelers brought plants and materials here. At this point, the pathogen is unique only to the coconut trees in Hawaii. Began in the windward side of the islands, but has spread to the leeward side of the islands. Visintainer identified infestations on golf courses. Their reasoning is that maintenance teams provide volumes of water to keep the courses green, so coconut trees receive water volumes as well. Educating the public "This encourages the spread of the pathogen, as it thrives on moisture," Visintainer said. "In Hawaii, which have high levels of humidity and moisture. People are worried by the pathogen, if they were aware of it. We are talking of probably tens of thousands of coconut trees. If you have a tree to die from the pathogen, is only one tree, perhaps a forest of 50 trees, so it is often difficult to recognize the pathogen and its ability to infect more trees. By the time the tree is sick and dead tree trimmers can come and cut the tree. Still there were 49 coconut trees, so do not think there is a serious problem. However, do not wait until 30 percent of the population is infected with AIDS, to recognize the problem. By then, you have lost the battle. "With the coconut trees, the experts have the opportunity to manage the pathogen before it is beyond control, according to Visintainer. Has received support from many people. "We charge a fee for the injections, which is $ 20 for every coconut tree, and if there are 50 trees or more, we charge $ 15 per tree," Visintainer said. "There is now much more aware of what he had done five to 10 years. There is a good possibility that we will win the battle. "A word of CommunityDr Research. Jeri Ooka, plant pathologist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawaii, Kauai, began work on the disease during the epidemic from 1982 to 1985 and acknowledged putrefaction stage of the fruit of the disease. Ooka demonstrated the pathogenicity of isolates of the pathogen. During the mid 1980's Drs. Aragaki, Uchida, Nagata Norman and others in the group Uchida confirmed the pathogenicity of Phytophthora katsurae in fruits and seedlings. These experiments were the first who identified the causal agent, as pure cultures of the pathogen were placed in healthy people who became ill. Molokai has not been surveyed as well, but seems to be free of the disease in the lee of the island, according to Ooka. It is true that heart rot caused by the pathogen was here in 1971. It is likely that the disease was here in 1966. Moving trees around in the last 30 years has spread faster pathogen that has spread naturally. The value of trees has become more evident disease. Each tree is worth more than $ 1,000 and the trees are very difficult to replace. "From 1982 to 1992 several field trials were conducted to test different fungicides to control disease," Ooka said. "The first experiments involved placing a copper-based fungicides in the heart of the leaf. Later trials were generally at different rates of systemic fungicides metalaxyl and fosethyl Al-aerosol sprays, potions or injections. Potassium phosphite was the last compound is added to the tests. The last formal study was conducted in 1992. This study was terminated abruptly by Hurricane Iniki. All tests were inconclusive fosethyl-Al and potassium phosphite shows the best promise and metalaxyl least. "The formula to inject the coconut trees is derived from southern Africa, Americas, Europe and Australia publications reporting the use of metalaxyl, fosethyl-Al-Al and fosethyl injecting potassium phosphite for control of diseases caused Phytophthora, according to Ooka. The disease is known by the familiar landscape with coconut trees. tree trimmers almost always know of the disease, but not necessarily its details. Homeowners, condominium association boards of directors, holders of the hotel grounds, golf courses and green keepers aware of the disease affecting the trees. Ooka said that the heart rot will not eliminate all the nuts in Hawaii. Ooka explained that Hawaii is a dynamic biological system with many factors affecting the balance between pathogen and host, resulting in the presence or absence of disease. There are biological reasons, economic, cultural and aesthetic to preserve the coconut trees. Cocos nucifera is the only species left in its genre. It is a traditional plant's economic lowland tropical areas, which provides many of the raw materials for survival in the livelihood systems and tropical ocean. For industrial economies, coconut oil was both an important raw material for manufacturing. Has acquired a cultural importance in societies that depend on it. "It is an important ornamental plant, which identifies Hawaii and elsewhere as a tropical paradise for tourists," Ooka said. "The pathogen is never completely eradicated. In that sense, we can not win a war against it. As the host change, so do pathogens. Sometimes, the environment is allied with the host, sometimes with the pathogen. Our goal is to maintain disease severity and the appearance on economically acceptable level. "Applying the principles of public health goes a long way to do this, according to Ooka. There are things people can do to prevent the spread of pathogens, as the start of clean seed plants, collected from healthy trees grown in a dry environment. Ooka should germinate the seed in a bowl mix well amended with compost disease suppression. Once they are planted in the field, plants should not be overly fertilized irrigated. The trees in the wetlands, fresh with a higher probability of being infected should not be used for transplantation. "Do not plant trees in appropriate places," Ooka said. "For example, do not plant trees in a suitable environment for the disease and not suitable for coconut. This includes most of the sites of more than 1,000 meters, or more than 100 inches of rain per year, on the windward side of the island. If planted in areas such as the tree will not survive more than 20 years. In endemic areas rot, the trees will probably succumb to the disease in 10 to 15 years. In dry areas suitable for coconut, nitrogenous fertilizers and irrigation must be monitored to avoid the creation of many tissues highly susceptible to the pathogen "If Visintainer, other experts and the community in Hawaii can successfully wage a war against Phytophthora. - And win - then their commitment to protect and preserve the coconut trees on the islands will be worthwhile. The arduous process of educating the public about the disease and raise awareness and concern, is a good start. Meanwhile, another coconut tree dies with each passing day - leaving less than a symbol of Hawaii for future generations.
kianamaiart
gummygunk
origamiaround