What are the symptoms of Sudden Oak Death?
Bark canker hosts infected with P. ramorum have large cankers on the trunk or main stem accompanied by browning of leaves. Tree death may occur within several months to several years after initial infection. Infection on foliar hosts is indicated by dark grey-to-brown lesions with indistinct edges. These lesions can occur anywhere on the l eaf blade, in vascular tissue, or on the petiole. Petiole lesions are often accompanied by stem lesions. Some hosts with leaf lesions defoliate and eventually show twig dieback. Infected plants will begin to show spores and spoil symptoms in the spring – within the next few weeks. Cultures to determine possible infection, however, can be performed on plants before symptoms show. How does the disease spread in the nursery? The spread of SOD likely occurs through infected plant material, rainwater, and soil. The fungus releases spores, which may be carried via wind, water, tools (such as pruning shears), clothes, etc. Can non-host plants be disease vec
