It may take another five years to determine if the Coconut Industry Board’s (CIB) Special Malayan Dwarf tree can be classified as resistant to the widespread lethal yellowing disease, but until then, efforts to prevent the spreading of the malady will continue in high gear.

Lethal yellowing is a phytoplasma disease that attacks many species of palms, including commercially important species such as the coconut and the date palm. It results in yellowing of the leaves, wilting and death.

The disease has been in the island since 1884, but started crippling the coconut industry in 1961 and caused further damage in 1971 when it destroyed around 10 million “Jamaica Talls”, which were the dominant variety at the time.

Since then, lethal yellowing has been a constant hindrance to coconut farmers, but research conducted by the CIB has seen the fruition of several initiatives to deal with the disease to include a multi-variety approach and the black approach.

Under the black approach, farmers are encouraged to closely monitor their trees for the disease and follow up with removal of affected trees, replanting, fertilisation, and weed control.

The CIB has also identified hardier varieties to include the Malayan Dwarf tree.

“The Malayan Dwarf… although they are dying from the disease, are considered to be far more resistant than any variety or hybrids we currently have and it was the Malayan Dwarf in the 1960s and 70s that formed the basis for the resuscitation of the coconut industry,” plant pathologist at the CIB, Dr Wayne Myrie, told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.

He added that around 13 years ago, the CIB developed its own variety in the form of the Special Malayan Dwarf, which has showed promise so far in terms of resistance, although there may be “one or two cases” of the lethal yellowing disease. He noted, however, that testing is ongoing to determine if this is the case.

“For farmers to be qualified to get the Malayan Dwarf they must have a property that is in the lethal yellowing zone because what we are doing now is testing those special plants… putting them in the lethal yellowing zone to ensure they are fully exposed to the disease, so when we say they are resisting or resistant, we know that they are truly resistant,” Dr Myrie explained.

He noted that they make a distinction between resisting the disease and being resistant, highlighting that so far the special Malayan Dwarves have been resisting the disease. As such, they want to ensure that the plants are exposed for a longer period of time as the generational life for coconuts is not short. The tall variety is said to have a common life span of 60 to 80 years, while the dwarf variety spans 20 to 25 years.

“So we want to expose them over a longer period of time to make sure that they are actually standing up to the disease. I would say in another five years, if they are still behaving the same way, I would consider them to be resistant to the disease,” Myrie said.

He stated that for coconutsthe critical period for showing resistance is during the flowering stages and once the tree is past that stage they will usually resist the disease.

But while there is still some time left to determine whether the Special Malayan Dwarf can be classified as a resistant variety, Myrie said the CIB continues to work with farmers to ensure productivity is maintained.

He spoke to the cutting down teams in place in heavily affected areas such as Portland, whose primary role is to remove diseased trees. Myrie added that they give farmers Special Malayan Dwarves as replacements and provide technical support as well as fertilisers.

He explained that as of next month, construction will start on a shade house and nursery on the grounds of Knockalva Agricultural School in Hanover to provide for farmers in the western end of the island who, if the CIB is unable to deliver to them, have to go to St Elizabeth for seedlings. He added that this will also serve as a training opportunity for the school’s students.

“We went and selected the site. We know about area. the Knockalva stakeholders have agreed they will host a shade house and nursery there, so installation of the shade house will take maybe two weeks and then, six months after, seedlings will be ready,” Myrie said.