Sudden Oak Death

1. For a recent article published by the California Oak Mortality Task Force, click HERE, then choose the February, 2004 link.

2. The text below was provided by Dr. Manfred Mielke

Europe reports Sudden Oak Death infections in two species of oak, Quercus rubra and Q. falcata (northern and southern red oak)

The Netherlands and the United Kingdom announced detections of Phytophthora ramorum (Pr) in two species of oak native to the eastern United States. The northern and southern red oaks are planted in the US and Europe as shade
and landscape trees.

The Netherlands Plant Protection Service reported that a single symptomatic (oozing from the trunk) and dying Q. rubra was found in a park among Rhododendron shrubs with a history of infection dating back to September 2002. Scientists confirmed Pr using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests and culturing with morphological identification.

The United Kingdom's DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) reported that they had confirmed P. ramorum on a mature southern red oak, isolating the organism from an oozing canker of the trunk. The
tree is established in an area south of London (Sussex) where Pr is under eradication in an area where Rhododendron had previously been found infected. More details available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2003/031105b.htm

Manfred Mielke
Forest Health Monitoring

3. Sudden Oak Death Pathogen Found on Tree in New York State

July 28 - According to the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen responsible for the tree-killing disease known as sudden oak death, was found on a mature red oak tree located in a 192-acre hardwood and oak forest in Nassau County, New York. Further surveys are underway to determine if there are other infected plants and infested sites.

As of June 30, P. ramorum has been confirmed in plants at 118 locations in16 states. The numbers of nurseries or garden centers with positive trace forward samples from the wholesaler by state are California (43), Alabama (3), Arkansas (1), Florida (6), Washington (11), Oregon (9), Texas (10), Colorado (1), Georgia (13), Louisiana (5), Maryland (1), North Carolina (9), New Mexico (1), Tennessee (2), and Virginia (1).

For more information, visit the APHIS website.

4. Click here to open a PDF file (requires Acrobat reader) with more information about SOD in Europe.

5. Click here to visit the University of Illinois site on SOD.

Last updated 22 June 2006