Rachis/petiole blight

[Walt]

For the last 1-2 years I noticed my double Livistona chinensis going into a decline. I never really took the time to really check my palm out, since it's growing in a remote part of my property.

Anyway, yesterday I took a much more thorough look, and what I think is affecting my palm is Rachis/petiole blight.

Many of the petioles of these palms have the classic dark brown diseased look along one side of the petiole. Further, that side (half) of the leave is dead. This is typical as per the book Ornamental Palm Horticulture (Broshat and Meerow).

What I'm not sure about is the treatment for this disease. I've read that there's still much to understand about this disease, and that it's best to cut of the infected fronds/petioles and treat the palm with a fungicide,  I assume copper sulfate.

I don't recall seeing any inquires here as to this disease, by others. Can anyone here offer me any advice?

Here's a photo of the overall palm. Note partially dead leaves (view full size for best look):

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2194070620042496162tdsLfI

This photo shows the brown discoloration along one side of the petiole. Note the dead leaf tissue:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2223259400042496162AzSDLC

This photo shows the lower petioles on my smallest palm. Note the brown areas on some of the petioles.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2867294710042496162SXltRG

I have other Livistona chinensis as well as numerous other species of Livistona that don't have this problem. My best guess, for what little I know, is that my palm is infected with a petiole blight.

Have othes experienced this? If so, what remedial action did you take, other than killing the palm (lol).