Nature 197, 619 - 620 (09 February 1963); doi:10.1038/197619b0

Possible Presence of a Phytotoxin in Red-ring Infected Trees

L. C. GOBERDHAN

Trinidad and Tobago Coconut Research, Ltd., Eastern Main Road, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad.

RED-RING disease of coconuts is caused by the nematode Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb 1919) Goodey 1960, which colonizes the stem in a ring 3–5 cm inside the periphery where the fibro-vascular strands are densest, and causes the formation of a distinctive red-orange band in this zone. Characteristic symptoms are yellowing and wilting of leaves.

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