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Sudden Oak Death is a recently recognized disease that
is killing oaks and other plant species in the western U.S. First noticed in
1995, the disease has been confirmed in the coastal areas north and south of
San Francisco, and in a relatively remote location in southwestern Oregon. The
pathogen responsible for the disease, a fungus-like organism called
Phytophthora ramorum, is also found in Germany and Denmark, where it is
causing a recently identified disease on Rhododendron and Viburnum.
Although in the U.S. the disease has been found only
in California and Oregon, it is of great concern to land managers in the
Eastern U.S. as well, because at least two eastern oak species, northern pin
oak (Quercus palustris) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra), are
highly susceptible to the disease when inoculated with the pathogen. Forest
land managers nationwide should be aware of the symptoms of sudden oak death,
and should contact a pest management specialist if they suspect that the
disease is present in a new location. |
