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Recent advances in the control of oak wilt in the United States

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Oak wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fagacearum (T.W.Bretz) J. Hunt, is probably the most destructive disease of oak trees (Quercus species) in the United States, and is currently causing high mortality at epiphytotic proportions in central Texas. The serious potential for damage prompted an increase in federal funding within the past fifteen years for new oak wilt research. New research developments have included adaptive utilizations of industrial technologies such as Electronic Aroma Detection (EAD) and aerial infrared remote sensing surveys for early disease detection and diagnosis, geotextile polymeric landscape fabrics etc. All of these areas of increased knowledge have contributed to and provided means for improving oak wilt suppression in a more effective and integrated way. The development of these improved methods for oak wilt control are reviewed here and discussed in relation to current state forestry pest-control programs that have begun to implement these new methods in their oak wilt suppression operations.

Keywords

Ceratocystis fagacearum, disease suppression, microinjectors, trench inserts, triazole fungicides

Citation

Wilson, Dan A. 2005. Recent advances in the control of oak wilt in the United States. Plant Pathology Journal. 4(2): 177-191
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/21644