Invasive Forest Pathogens in Wisconsin

Current and Future Concerns

Kyoko ScanlonForest Pathologist

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

What are “invasive” pathogens in Wisconsin?

• Chapter NR-40: Invasive Species Identification, Classification and Control– “Prohibited”

• Sudden oak death pathogen• Scale associated with beech bark disease

– “Restricted”• None currently

My addition for this talk

• “Prohibited”– Thousand cankers disease pathogen

• “Restricted”? – Oak wilt pathogen– Annosum root rot pathogen

Sudden Oak death

Map Produced by Bill Smith, USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring Statistics and Data Analysis Program.

Sudden Oak Death Risk Map

Phytophthora ramorum Early Detection Survey

Surveys in Wisconsin by the WI DATCP, DNR, UW2004 ~

– Nurseries2004-2006

– Woodlands near nurseries

– General woodlands2007

– Stream baiting traps

= Sites surveyed in 2004 and 2005 = Sites surveyed in 2006

NR-40 “Prohibited” species candidate? Thousand cankers disease

Walnut dieback investigation

2011 Trapping of Pityophthorus juglandis (DATCP & DNR)

Beech Scale/Beech Bark Disease

Beech bark disease biologyBeech Bark Disease =

beech scale + Neonectria fungi

Beech bark disease spread

Found in Wisconsin Aug 25, 2009

Nova Scotia in 1890

Massachusetts 1929

Maine 1931

Michigan 2000

Beech bark disease distribution 2005

2010 Beech scale survey

Red dot=beech scale confirmed

Blue dot=beech scale not found

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First findIn 2009

Beech bark disease prevention and management in Wisconsin

• No quarantine will be delisted from NR40• Movement restriction : 7/15-11/15• Training/workshops• Continue surveys• Potential resistant tree selection• Confirm Neonectria spp.• Grant project: Establish BBD monitoring and

impact assessment system

Annosum Root Rot

Caused by a fungusHeterobasidion irregulare

Formally H. annosum

Before that Fomes annosus

Known Locations of H. irregulare as of

11/2010

22 Counties:

Adams, Buffalo, Columbia, Dunn, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Oconto (2010), Portage, Richland, Sauk, Shawano (2009), Taylor (2010), Trempealeau, Walworth, Waukesha, Waupaca (2008), Waushara (2008), and Wood Counties

Sauk Co. forest (13 acres)

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Treat freshly cut stumps with fungicide

Sporax – granular material

A water-soluble fungicide – Cellu-Treat

Application of a fungicide during machine harvesting

Progress in the management of the disease

• Disease detection– Statewide surveys– Pathogen detection lab tests

• Biology of the disease– Spore dispersal field study– Regeneration studies– Greenhouse disease susceptibility test

• Disease prevention– More loggers who offer the treatment– Timber sale language template– Annosum root rot committee

Oak wilt Caused by the fungus

Ceratocystis fagacearum

Oak wilt county distribution in Wisconsin

1999

2002

2010

2008

New development on oak wilt in WI

• Development of oak wilt field diagnosis guidelines

• Development of national oak wilt database• Development/implementation of new oak

harvest guidelines in the forest setting in Wisconsin

Case study

• Q1: Is oak wilt present?– Oak wilt not present in the

county AND stand is NOT in 6-mile wide buffer between counties with and without oak wilt.

– Oak wilt present in the county or your stand is in 6-mile wide buffer zone, but not in stand.

– Oak wilt present in the stand Oak wilt presentNo oak wilt

Buffer County

Case study

• Q2: What time of the year do you propose cutting?– South of tension zone

• April 1 to July 15• July 16 to Sept. 30 • Oct. 1 to March 31

– North of tension zone• April 15 to July 15• July 16 to Sept. 30• Oct. 1 to April 14

SouthNorthSouthNorth

Case study• Q3: What is the basal

area (BA) of oak in the stand?

– 15 sq. ft./acre or less– 15 to 35 sq. ft./acre– greater than 35 sq.

ft./acre

• Q4: What is the general topography of the stand?

– Flat to rolling land or 0 to 12% slope.

– Hilly with valleys or more than 12% slope.

Questions asked• Q5: What is the

general soil texture of the stand?– Light textured (e.g.

sandy, loamy sand, sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and loam)

– Heavy textured (sandy clay, clay, clay loam, silt, silt loam, silty clay loam, and clay loam)

Guidelines

• Risk of introduction – Very High• Risk of spread – Moderate• Combined risk – High• Recommendation

– Do not cut from 4/1 to 7/15• 7/16-3/31 No Restriction

Guidelines if BA is less than 15 ft2/acre

• Risk of introduction – Very High• Risk of spread – Low (before Moderate)• Combined risk – Low (before High)• Recommendation

– Cutting may be conducted April 1 - July 15 (south) if new stumps are treated each day to reduce the risk of new introductions. Treat stumps by applying tree wound paint to the last 3 growth rings.

• 7/16-3/31 No Restriction (study to examine the risk of cutting in summer is underway)

Guideline format• Excel spread sheet• Hard-copy • Interactive websitehttp://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fh/oakWilt/guidelinesform.asp

Summary• Invasive pathogens that are not detected

– Detection surveys– Prepare for the arrival

• Newly-found invasive pathogens– Detection surveys– Develop management guidelines– Work cooperatively on new research studies

• Old invasive pathogens– Follow management guidelines– Work cooperatively on new research studies– Detection surveys, as needed

• All invasive pathogen problems– Outreach efforts