Sudden Oak Death
Symptoms on Rhododendron "Nova Zembla"
Sudden Oak Death, (SOD, Phytophthora canker disease, Ramorum blight) Phytophthora ramorum may have arrived in Maryland. It is a devastating disease that has killed thousands of trees in California. Sudden oak death is caused by Phytophthora ramorum, which is a fungus-like pathogen that spreads by sending spores from infected leaves, and twigs.
Maryland and D.C. Residents, Your Help is Requested!
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is seeking help from the public in tracking down infected plant material. They are interested in any plants on the Host List published by the USDA, APHIS that were planted beginning in 2003 and are exhibiting unusual symptoms should be sent to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) for testing.
If you suspect that you have an infected plant, whether it has symptoms or not, please call our phone consultants at 1-800-342-2507 (410-342-2507 in Washington, D.C.) before sending in a sample. They will assist in determining if a sample needs to be sent to MDA. We will take your name and address which will be forwarded to MDA daily. If you prefer, you can send us your name and mailing address via "Contact Information" link below. MDA will send you a postage paid sample kit.
Samples should only be sent to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Do not send or hand carry samples to the Home and Garden Information Center or your county cooperative extension office. See detailed instructions in the criteria and sampling guidelines that follow.
Pest Alert Sudden Oak Death Fact Sheet
Sudden Oak Death Photo Gallery
Excellent Links to Sudden Oak Death Information
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