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Bud rot / spear rot in oil palm: signs and what to do

What it looks like

The youngest unopened spear leaf is brown, rotting or dried, bends over, pulls out easily, often with a bad smell.

What to do

Act now: bud rot can kill the palm. Cut away and remove the rotten tissue in the crown.
Clean the crown and basin, and check nearby palms every week.

Spray advice (IIOPR)

No pesticide is officially registered for oil palm in India. This is ICAR-IIOPR's published advice. Check with your mill's field officer before spraying.

IIOPR: after cleaning, drench with 1 ml Propiconazole + Difenoconazole, or 3 g Carbendazim + Mancozeb with 2 g Streptomycin sulphate, per litre of water: 300 ml in the crown and 40 litres in the basin.

Questions

How do I recognise bud rot / spear rot in oil palm?

The youngest unopened spear leaf is brown, rotting or dried, bends over, pulls out easily, often with a bad smell.

What should I do about bud rot / spear rot?

Act now: bud rot can kill the palm. Cut away and remove the rotten tissue in the crown. Clean the crown and basin, and check nearby palms every week.

Sources: ICAR-IIOPR Crop Calendar 2026

Check your palm with a photo

Palm Day's photo check tells you if it's this problem or something else, in Telugu.