There are many “what if” scenarios circling the highly contagious fungus-like disease that has invaded the Oaks of the west cost. The best scenarios involve controlling and eliminating the problem, while the worst scenarios present a potentially devastating threat to the coastal redwoods of California.
Three years ago the pathogen didn’t have a name. Since then, it has become known as sudden oak death. In a very short time, the fungus-like pathogen spread across 12 coastal counties along California, and Oregon, killing thousands of oaks. Now, there is worry that it could damage the redwoods similarly.
Early in 2002, the pathogen was believed to have been identified in redwoods in the five counties, including, Santa Cruz and Sonoma. Back in September 2002, researchers officially announced that the coastal redwood and the Douglas fir joined the number of species susceptible to the disease. Sixteen of the 17 species can be found in California. Researchers from the Universities of Davis and Berkley are closely following the development of the pathogen in California’s redwoods, while simultaneously working on solutions for the other infected species.
“We’re still in the early stages. We’re trying to understand its biology,” said Matteo Garbelotto, PhD., who is researching the pathogen from Berkley.
In speaking with Garbelotto, he told LCN, “We need to look at this over a period of time to see what the effects will be. We are researching this in stages.” Garbelott noted, “The first stage was to identify the pathogen in the species. The second stage is to find out exactly, what it is doing there.”
Garbelotto hopes that the second stage can be completed by the end of the year. What happens after is yet to be determined. Ultimately, it depends on how capable the pathogen is of damaging the trees.
To this point, Garbelotto says the pathogen (Phytophthora ramorum) has only been found in small branches, on the needles and in saplings. And, it is unclear whether or not the disease is dangerous to the mature redwoods - which leads back to the “what ifs?”
If the sudden oak death evolves into a disease that infects and damages redwoods in the same manner the oaks were attacked, the results could be devastating to the timber industry. However, if the pathogen’s presence proves inconsequential to the redwoods, then potential answers into resolving the problem could be discovered. But again, only time and research will reveal the answers.
As reported by Landscape Communications, on LandScapeOnline.Com, in December of 2002, the fungus was first discovered in California back in 1995. However, the Netherlands documented the oak-killing pathogen in 1993. Now, the fungus has become a concern to communities across the planet and millions of dollars have been spent in efforts to slow or stop the disease.
The pathogen causes oozing, red globs to grow on the trunks of infected trees as it blocks sugars from feeding the roots, ultimately drying them out. Federal and state agencies have placed restriction on imports of nursery plants, soil and compost from infected areas. Internationally, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Korea have placed restrictions to assist the quarantine as well.
Garbelotto told LCN that fungicide treatments have been successful in addressing the problem. The fungicides that have been developed for oaks, according to Garbelotto, are “aimed at enhancing the natural defense mechanisms of the trees.”
If sudden oak death exposes a legitimate threat to the California redwoods, then there are hopes that similar steps could be taken to prevent widespread damage.
