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Tracking population loss in Cornus florida since discovery of Discula destructiva, causal agent of dogwood anthracnose, in eastern North America

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The purpose of this evaluation monitoring project was to document the losses of flowering dogwood, Cornus florida (L.), an important ornamental and wildlife tree that grows across much of Eastern North America. The project was prompted in 2001 by the apparent abundance of flowering dogwoods along roadsides in the Morgantown, WV, area, despite a history of severe impacts ascribed mainly to dogwood anthracnose. The native range of dogwood extends from southeastern Canada and Maine south to Florida and as far west as Kansas and Texas (McLemore 1990). However, during the past 20 to 30 years, dogwood has been suffering from the impacts of Discula destructiva (Redlin 1991), causal agent of dogwood anthracnose. This project was based on more than 20 years of cooperative work between employees and their contractors from five States - Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina - and forest health specialists from three Federal programs - the Forest Health Protection Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Southern Research Station of the Forest Service; and the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Parent Publication

Citation

Jones, William E.; Smith, William D.; Twardus, Daniel B. 2012. Tracking population loss in Cornus florida since discovery of Discula destructiva, causal agent of dogwood anthracnose, in eastern North America. In: Potter, Kevin M.; Conkling, Barbara L., eds. 2012. Forest health monitoring: 2009 national technical report. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-167. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 191-197.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/43362