Reason for splitting of trunk portion of coconut palm

[Regi jacob Thomas]

Dear all,

 Herewith attaching a photograph of a coconut palm with typical splitting noticed on the trunk portion. 

Note: The basin portion of the palm is covered with tiles as the palms stand in a residential house compound.

 Looking for possible reasons for splitting of trunk portion of palm.

With regards

Regi Jacob Thomas

ICAR-CPCRI

Regional Station, Kayamkulam

Alappuzha-690533

Kerala State

INDIA

[Nat Tuivavalagi]

FYI, according to Tomlinson Bomberger's blog: 

The most common cause for splits in trunks is from frost cracking or sun scald. Sun Scald most often occurs on the south to southwest side of tree trunks on young trees with thin bark. On a warm winter days, the direct sun's heat warms up the surface of the bark. Later that night, these areas rapidly re-freeze.  

Nat Tuivavalagi, CRE Dept, College of Micronesia-FSM, Pohnpei 

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[DDeden]

Could it have developed from strong winds twisting the stem? Or periodic cycling of drought and deluge accompanied by tears from cyclones?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[Mike Foale]

Sorry

I could not find an attached image.

Mike

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[Mike Foale]

I apologise for not opening the earlier message which does have an image attached.

Is the trunk of the palm “enclosed” within structures which could maintain high humidity to that the surface of the trunk does not dry out as it would in an open plantation? Perhaps the surface of the trunk is softened by high humidity.

Mike Foale

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[Augustine Jerard Bosco]

Dear Dr Regi,

It may be due to exposure of stem portion to temperature variation. The trunk could have got sudden exposure to higher temperature after prolonged cover with tiles (making the stem under cooler condition with high humidity).

After some years, when the palm becomes old, roots may come from the split.

regards,

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