A new root disease is damaging oak trees in Swiss forests
Published: Tuesday, Jan 9th 2024, 11:01
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A new root disease is causing problems for Swiss oaks. Last year, researchers detected the root and stem diseases of the genus Phytophthora on Swiss oaks for the first time.
It is particularly worrying that this root disease occurs together with the so-called acute oak dieback, as Forest Protection Switzerland, the specialist unit for forest protection issues at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, announced on Tuesday.
According to WSL, oaks are considered to be the tree species of the future because, compared to other common deciduous tree species, they suffer less from the consequences of climate change such as heat or drought. However, according to the research institute, the disease acute oak dieback, which is caused by various bacteria, was detected in Switzerland for the first time in 2017.
On the north side of the Alps
Researchers from Forest Protection Switzerland have since examined all reported oak trees with symptoms of acute oak dieback for root and stem diseases of the genus Phytophthora. This is because the symptoms of these diseases are similar, according to the WSL. In 2023, two tests for root disease were positive.
According to the experts, it is worrying that one of the two cases originates from the northern side of the Alps. Until now, it was assumed that this pathogen could not establish itself on the northern side of the Alps, as the winter temperatures are generally too low for it to do so.
Double infestation
The affected oaks were also affected by acute oak dieback at the same time. This is new, according to the WSL. To date, there have been no reports worldwide of the two diseases being detected together on the same tree.
Therefore, many questions remain unanswered. For example, whether oak trees die faster due to a double infestation. WSL is launching a new research project on this at the beginning of 2024, as the research institute wrote in the press release.
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