Sudden oak death

Phytophthora
Sudden oak death
Sudden oak death symptoms in blueberry
Scientific Classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Chromalveolata
Phylum:	Heterokontophyta
Class:	Oomycetes
Order:	Peronosporales
Family:	Pythiaceae
Genus:	Phytophthora
Species:	Phytophthora ramorum

Sudden Oak Death' is the common name of a disease caused by the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. The disease kills oak and other species of tree and has had devastating effects on the oak populations in California and Oregon as well as also being present in Europe.

Symptoms

Trees

Symptoms include bleeding cankers on the tree's trunk and dieback of the foliage, in many cases eventually leading to the death of the tree.

Other species

Characteristic symptoms are dark spots on foliage and in some hosts the dieback of the stems and twigs.

Treatment

Several effective compounds have been found; some of the most effective include mefenoxam, metalaxyl, dimethomorph, and fenamidone. Many of these studies have converged upon the following conclusions: chemical compounds are, in general, more effective as preventatives than in curatives; when used preventatively, chemical compounds must be reapplied at various intervals; and chemical compounds can mask the symptoms of P. ramorum infection in the host plant, potentially interfering with inspections for quarantine efforts.

Prevention

One of the most important aspects of P. ramorum control involves interrupting the human-mediated movement of the pathogen by ensuring that infested materials do not move from location to location. In most cases, cleanliness practices involve ridding potentially infested surfaces—such as shoes, vehicles, and pets—of foliage and mud before leaving the infested area.

References

Ericaceae troubles
Bilberry · Blueberry · Cranberry
Adverse conditions
Diseases	Hemlock needle rust · Sudden oak death
Pests	Blueberry maggot · Cranberry fruitworm · Leaf-footed bug · Vine weevil · Winter moth