Water soaked lesions with different shape and colours on the emerging spindle and young tender leaves
Dark brown spots develop on the tender leaves which later enlarge and dry up as the leaf emerges and leaflets will not open fully
Successive central shoots are affected, resulting in rotting of all the leaves on the crown
These lesions enlarge, coalesce leading to extensive rotting of spindle leaves
Extension of rotting into the interior of spindle resulting in decay and sometime rotting of buds
Tips of leaflets and midribs often become blackish, shriveled and fall off in wind, giving a ‘fan’ like or ‘arrow leaf’ appearance to the leaves
Successive infection of the emerging spindles results in appearance of symptoms in most of the leaves of the crown
Extensive lesions and their coalescing results in severe blighting of lamina
Breaking of ends of leaves which subsequently become yellow and eventually hang, dry and fall of
Control Measures
Remove and destroy severely affected / senile and uneconomic palms
Replant with healthy seedlings from elite palms and hybrid varieties tolerant to the leaf rot - root (wilt) disease complex. CGD and hybrids of CGD X WCT are tolerant under field conditions
Adopt all recommended practices viz agronomic, cultural, plant protection etc as applicable to root (wilt) disease endemic region
Clean the crown in general during pre-monsoon period.
Remove and destroy the rotten portions from the spear leaf and the 2-3 adjacent leaves
Pour 300 -1000 ml of fungicidal solution of 3g mancozeb in 300ml water at the base of spear
Spray crowns and leaves with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.5% Copper oxychloride formulation (5g/L) in January, April-May and September. While spraying, care should be taken to spray the spindle leaf and 2-3 adjacent leaves
Dept of Agriculture Development 
SFAC Kerala