Laurel Wilt Disease Associated with Redbay Ambrosia Beetle
Laurel wilt is a deadly vascular disease of plants in the Laurel family (Lauraceae). It is caused by the fungus Harringtonia lauricola and vectored by the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, apparently introduced from Asia in solid wood packing material into the Port of Savannah. Since 2003, laurel wilt has caused massive mortality in most species … Continue Reading →
Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in Georgia
Sudden Oak Death (SOD) was first reported in 1995 in central coastal California. Since then, tens of thousands of tanoaks (Lithocarpus densiflorus), coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia), and California black oaks (Quercus kelloggii) have been killed by the fungus, Phytophthora ramorum. On these hosts, the fungus causes a bleeding canker on the main stem of … Continue Reading →
Heterobasidion Root Disease (formally Annosum Root Disease) in Georgia
Many Georgia landowners with property along, or south of, the fall line (running from Augusta to Columbus) are noticing dead and dying trees in their pine stand. These stands were thinned one to five years ago and are located mainly on sandy to sandy loam soils. First impressions are that these stands are infested with … Continue Reading →
