Betel nut fungi spread to Tanapag

The fungi that killed more than a hundreds betel nut trees on Capitol Hill and in Papago some two weeks ago have spread to Tanapag Village.

Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service agriculture consultant Isidoro T. Cabrera told the Saipan Tribune yesterday that the fungus, Phytophthora meadi, has now infected an estimated 200 betel nut trees in the village.

Cabrera said he discovered the infection Wednesday morning during one of his routine surveys of villages on Saipan.

“Some are already dead and some are just dying,” he said.

More than 150 trees—over 100 in Papago and over 50 on Capitol Hill—were infected by the disease almost two weeks ago.

Cabrera said he is more worried now since the months of June, July, and August bring high winds to the islands, which could easily facilitate the spread of the disease to other areas on Saipan as well as to Tinian and Rota.

Cabrera said that one way to prevent the spread of the fungi among betel nut trees is to use Kocide 4.5LF fungicide, but they are still awaiting approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 office in California to use the chemical.

This chemical is a registered control measure against the fungus when it hit Guam last year, according to Cabrera.

The Department of Environmental Quality informed Cabrera last Tuesday that the EPA has already responded to their request but would like to get more justification why the CNMI needs to use the fungicide.

“I already sent DEQ information to be sent to EPA California but until now I’m still waiting for their response,” he said.

Cabrera said that he requested that NMC-CREES seek assistance to immediately solve the problem. They were able to get assistance from University of Guam, which will fly in a plant pathologist, Dr. George Wall, for a two-day visit to the island.

Wall, who will be arriving on Thursday next week, will be assisting NMC CREES in coming up with more measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Wall will have to go back to Guam Friday afternoon.

Cabrera said he and Wall would be going around the island to do more surveys on the condition of the betel nut plantations on Saipan.

Cabrera also said he would want Wall to see that the same disease that attacked Guam last year is the same disease that is currently affecting the betel nut industry on the island. (Marconi Calindas)