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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi, We have an interesting discussion happening at Master Gardeners. Can you help?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Master Gardeners has a question about what one member. Another member reported, “<span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:#F0F2F5'>It could be sooty bark disease, but this looks very similar to Stachybotrys mould, which requires a high moisture content & it is known to grow on Maples (Xerophile mould grows on Maple Syrup). Stachybotrys is black, feathery &/or powder-like to the touch; however, you should try not to have direct contact with your unprotected hands as it's a neurotoxin used in "biochemical warfare", etc.,....it's the reason many US homes have to be torn down & rebuilt as it has been dubbed "black asbestos". It likes to grow in between the walls, etc., & is difficult to eradicate once it starts growing. If you were dealing with Stachybotrys on your home walls, you could try to neutralize it with bleach; however, as it's growing on your Maple trees, I would get an Expert involved. It could be a lesser black mould such as Aspergillus, Alternaria Atra, or Cladosporium, but judging from the 3D depth of this mould, I think it's Stachbotrys, so try not to inhale it either...”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:#F0F2F5'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:#F0F2F5'>Thanks so much!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:#F0F2F5'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Pat Kerr<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Author, My Tree, My Forest<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>& We are Planting a Forest<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>R. R. #2 Bruce Mines, ON<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>P0R 1C0 Canada<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>(705) 785-9900<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PADPUBLISHING/"><span style='color:blue'>https://www.facebook.com/PADPUBLISHING/</span></a></span><i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br /><table style="border-top: 1px solid #D3D4DE;"><tr><td style="width: 55px; padding-top: 13px;"><a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><img src="https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width: 46px; height: 29px;"/></a></td><td style="width: 470px; padding-top: 12px; color: #41424e; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Virus-free.<a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank" style="color: #4453ea;">www.avast.com</a></td></tr></table><a href="#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"> </a></div></body></html>