Acute Oak Decline Confirmed In UK - Cause Unknown, Trees Die 3-5 Years After Infection

[hatrack]

A new disease killing native oak trees could alter the British landscape even more than Dutch elm disease, woodland groups warned today as they called for more funding to tackle the problem.

Acute oak decline (AOD) is hitting both species of native oak, which show black bleeding on the trunk and stems and can suffer rapid dieback and death within three to five years, experts said. The disease hitting the country's "iconic" tree has been found on 55 sites in the East of England, southern England and the Midlands, and experts warn other suspect cases have yet to be confirmed.

Woodland charities and commercial forestry groups are calling for £10 million over the next five years to investigate tree diseases - with acute oak decline a priority for research.

Peter Goodwin, of Woodland Heritage, said: "We're looking at a disease that has the potential to change our landscape even more than Dutch elm disease, and nothing is being done about it. "We can't afford a repetition of what happened then. Action is needed now."

EDIT

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/now-britains-oaks-face-killer-disease-1956849.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Oh, no! They have some of the most amazing oaks over there. :^(

[XemaSab]

2. $5 says it's phytopthera

n/t

[HereSince1628]

3. Is that what causes oak blight in the american midwest?

[XemaSab]

4. It causes sudden oak death in California

n/t

[HereSince1628]

5. In SE Wisconsin there is some sort of funguse that causes oak blight

If you nick a young oak in its growing season it can get the fungus, and it can spread through young stands when roots of adjacent infected and uninfected trees touch. I only know the common name it goes by, it takes a couple of years to actually kill the trees.