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Coast Forest Region. Pathology Update. Yellow-cedar Decline. Currently upwards of 30,000 ha identified Initiated pilot study in 2007 in co-operation with UBC Dendrochronology Lab
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Coast Forest Region Pathology Update
Yellow-cedar Decline • Currently upwards of 30,000 ha identified • Initiated pilot study in 2007 in co-operation with UBC Dendrochronology Lab • Objective is to quantify onset and magnitude of growth decline of symptomatic/dead cedar relative to asymptomatic cedar • Four sites sampled (about 250 trees) in the North Coast Forest District • Report by June 2008
Yellow-cedar Decline • What’s next? • Initiate photo interpretive work to quantify area affected and implications for timber supply (via UBC Geography Dept) • Further work expanding dendro sites down to mid and south coastal areas (via UBC Dendro Lab) • Need studies to clarify environmental and ecological conditions common to sites experiencing decline
Septoria musiva • An “exotic” fungus (=Mycosphaerella populorum) native to eastern North America that causes leaf spotting and cankers on balsam poplar, aspen and hybrid poplars • Confirmed on two hybrid poplar clones at a private nursery in Harrison Mills last August • Potential to spread to plantations of hybrid poplars and to establish on native black cottonwood
Septoria musiva • What did we do? • Learned about the disease • Organized a working group comprised of reps from MFR, CFS and company to discuss and oversight activities • Initiated quick survey and sampling of nursery and surrounding plantations • Recruited MAL Diagnostics Lab to conduct PCR tests on field samples to confirm S. musiva and UBC forest pathology lab to do quality control
PCR test results • 163 samples processed from hybrid poplars collected at 13 sites in November. • Sites included production stoolbeds at nursery and plantations in Fraser Valley. • 43 successful Septoria cultures across all sites but one (as of January 18). • 41 PCR-positives across all cultures. • Therefore, all sampled sites but two are positive for S. musiva.
Septoria musiva • What’s next? • Company has asked for emergency registration of Folicur 432F for use in nursery and plantations. Rotate use with Senator 70WP to provide control and defeat resistance. • Over the next year, monitor nursery area and plantations for further appearance of S. musiva. • Examine black cottonwood clonal trial in Harrison Mills for appearance of S. musiva.