[CANUFNET] Beech Bark Disease

Sun Feb 26 16:25:26 EST 2012

Hello

Ed & Bohdan are correct.  I've attached a one page document with some general genetic guidelines for forest managers. Two of those apply here:

- Retain trees exhibiting resistance to insect and disease problems. 

- Reduce or delay removal of large trees with good growth, form and resistance until regeneration is established. 

This has been important in the recovery programs for chestnut, white pine, elm, butternut and now beech and ash.  It is also important to keep enough living trees, even less vigorous ones that are not hazaards, in any one population to allow them to continue to cross pollinate and maintain genetic diversity in the species, as checks and balances for these new pests and pathogens species evolve in and with our forest communities.

MNR's Dr Richard Wilson and Dr John McLaughlin have held workshops recently in southern Ontario to help people understand the rationale for this with beech.  I have copied them here

Barb Boysen

Forest Gene Conservation Association

barb.boysen at ontario.ca

www.fgca.net

________________________________

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net on behalf of forestreecare at nexicom.net
Sent: Sat 25/02/2012 6:28 AM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Beech Bark Disease

Bowdan is correct. Never recommend the removal of a putitively resistant, or resilient tree to any disease or insect attack. There are always some trees (<5%) in a population that will pass on genetic resistance to the next generation. Saying all this, we must consider that the larger beech trees will not 'canker' similar to the regenerating trees which will be more deformed. Older, larger >60 cm dbh trees will likely have the initial population of beech scale when they first invade the area. That population of scale will subside over time and the two Nectria fungi responsible for bbd will then kill the trees over a number of years. The whole process is 10+ years or more.
There is lots of information on bbd out there. 
Ed Czerwinski
Forestree Care 
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
________________________________

From: "Koskinen, Jennifer" <Jennifer.Koskinen at stantec.com> 
Sender: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net 
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:34:36 -0700
To: canufnet at list.web.net<canufnet at list.web.net>
ReplyTo: Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net> 
Subject: [CANUFNET] Beech Bark Disease

Good day,

To cut or not to cut?  Beech Bark Disease (scale and fungus = canker) is destroying our beech trees.  I have observed cankering on many American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees in forests throughout Southern Ontario.  I would definitely recommend a tree (located in/adjacent to a public/residential area) in poor condition with this canker to be removed.  But what about removing trees that appear to be in good condition, minimal to no deadwood in crown, no observed rot on the stem, But with minimal signs of infection on the bark?  Without knowing how long these 'good condition' trees with small patches of infection will survive should we go ahead and remove them to be proactive?  Or retain them and possibly have them die in one or two years becoming a hazard tree?

What do you guys think?  Are there any pathology tree experts out there?

-jk

Jennifer Koskinen, HBESfcon
ISA Certified Arborist ON-1234A
Stantec

49 Frederick Street
Kitchener ON N2H 6M7
Ph: (519) 585-7442
Fx: (519) 579-8664
jennifer.koskinen at stantec.com

stantec.com <http://www.stantec.com/>  

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