PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:56 PM by Luigi

Betel Nut Tree Fungus Resurfaces in CNMI

The news item in the Saipan Tribune reproduced below prompted the following comment from Konrad Englberger, SPC Plant Protection Officer in Micronesia: This is bad news that the betel nut disease is back in CNMI. Some reports indicated that the disease was eradicated from CNMI, apparently this was wrong. I suppose the same will apply for Guam. FSM and Palau should be alerted of this destructive disease. FSM has a 2 million dollar betel nut export industry. We need to discuss if we should introduce a Clorox dip on shoes for people who visited farms/country in CNMI and Guam.

Saipan Tribune/Pacnews: Monday, February 14, 2005

The fungus Phytophthora meadii, which causes the Betel Nut Bud Rot Disease, has resurfaced and has already killed over 150 betel nut trees on Saipan.

According to agricultural consultant Isidoro T. Cabrera of the Northern Marianas College Cooperate Research, Extension and Education Service, the disease has already affected trees in an area in Papago and two areas in Capitol Hill.

Cabrera discovered the spread Friday during a survey around the island. The disease also destroyed thousands of trees on Guam from late 2003 to 2004, raising concerns from growers who depend on the sales generated from the betel nut.

Cabrera said the disease spreads during rainy season, especially if a typhoon is experienced. "That's the optimum time for the disease to start spreading," he said. "It takes high humidity, wind, and heavy rain for this disease to actually rejuvenate."

He said the disease was dormant for years because the island was not hit by a typhoon, but may have resurfaced because of the wet weather experienced last year, with Typhoon Tingting and Supertyphoon Chaba striking the island.

The fungus produces microscopic spores that are easily blown around and dispersed in the wind and rain. It is carried to other neighboring trees and infects them.

Once the spores are blown and has the right humidity and temperature, that's how the other trees are infected. It continues to spread to neighboring areas.

After a month-long incubation stage on the newly infected tree, symptoms of the disease will then appear and the tree will die in about another month.

Symptoms of the fungal infection include lesions on the leaves, dead young leaves or deterioration of the green part of the plant at the base of the leaves. Cabrera said once infected, a tree has no chance of survival. He suggested that the next best thing to do is to cut the tree and burn to prevent the disease from spreading.



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DIVA-GIS	Monday, February 28, 2005 Posted 1:56 PM by Luigi Betel Nut Tree Fungus Resurfaces in CNMI The news item in the Saipan Tribune reproduced below prompted the following comment from Konrad Englberger, SPC Plant Protection Officer in Micronesia: This is bad news that the betel nut disease is back in CNMI. Some reports indicated that the disease was eradicated from CNMI, apparently this was wrong. I suppose the same will apply for Guam. FSM and Palau should be alerted of this destructive disease. FSM has a 2 million dollar betel nut export industry. We need to discuss if we should introduce a Clorox dip on shoes for people who visited farms/country in CNMI and Guam. Saipan Tribune/Pacnews: Monday, February 14, 2005 The fungus Phytophthora meadii, which causes the Betel Nut Bud Rot Disease, has resurfaced and has already killed over 150 betel nut trees on Saipan. According to agricultural consultant Isidoro T. Cabrera of the Northern Marianas College Cooperate Research, Extension and Education Service, the disease has already affected trees in an area in Papago and two areas in Capitol Hill. Cabrera discovered the spread Friday during a survey around the island. The disease also destroyed thousands of trees on Guam from late 2003 to 2004, raising concerns from growers who depend on the sales generated from the betel nut. Cabrera said the disease spreads during rainy season, especially if a typhoon is experienced. "That's the optimum time for the disease to start spreading," he said. "It takes high humidity, wind, and heavy rain for this disease to actually rejuvenate." He said the disease was dormant for years because the island was not hit by a typhoon, but may have resurfaced because of the wet weather experienced last year, with Typhoon Tingting and Supertyphoon Chaba striking the island. The fungus produces microscopic spores that are easily blown around and dispersed in the wind and rain. It is carried to other neighboring trees and infects them. Once the spores are blown and has the right humidity and temperature, that's how the other trees are infected. It continues to spread to neighboring areas. After a month-long incubation stage on the newly infected tree, symptoms of the disease will then appear and the tree will die in about another month. Symptoms of the fungal infection include lesions on the leaves, dead young leaves or deterioration of the green part of the plant at the base of the leaves. Cabrera said once infected, a tree has no chance of survival. He suggested that the next best thing to do is to cut the tree and burn to prevent the disease from spreading. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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