oak disease

[rebocardo]

I have some oaks on my property. The oaks I can I.D. 100% as white oak with the long plate like bark are doing fine. The ones with a finer type bark, which I think might be immature white oak are not. Though one is about 30 inches dbh so I think it is mature, but, no acorns yet.

The trouble is these oaks have two diseases. One appears to be an orange type infection, which I am assuming is something called rust. It only kills a few branches at a time. The other that is actually killing the trees makes the trees look like they are prego in the trunks and branches. When cutting some of the fallen limbs up the bulges look hollowish inside sometimes, black, and tarry. I noticed the flying cockroaches (palometto bugs = whatever) are living in some of them.  

My main concern is the trees dropping bigger branches (some have been 3-4 wide inches), toppling over, or WORSE giving the good trees a disease.

The tree that is 30+ inches seven feet off the ground I would like to save if there is anything I can apply or inject. The other bad thing is you can see completely under the tree, enough so a large dog could crawl under it if it wanted to.

Are there any books on disease, treatment, and prevention?

What is the disease that is deforming them?

[Stephen_Wiley]

The difference in the bark texture may be due too immaturity as you have stated, or a bark fungus commonly referred as 'smooth patch' also gray patch.

The 'orange type infection' you are referring too is most likely of insignificant importance.

The other branch 'bulges' are referred to as galls their are numerous insects which develop galls and some are beneficial.

All of the above issues that you refer to as diseases are secondary responses. The trees are more likely in decline from a more serious matter due to climatic/soil changes or pathogenic invasion.  Two known major problems are "Oak Wilt" and "Armillaria spp.".

I suggest you contact a Consulting Forester or Consulting Arborist (with experience in pathology) to assist you in disease identification. Books may help you to understand disease characteristics.  But are not good at identification of pathogens.....confirmation is necessary through microscopical analysis.

Primary causes must be identified and addressed before application of secondary treaments can occur.

Correct analysis will save you dollars, although you may have to spend some for the management analysis.

[Kevin]

Tom Dunlap had posted this article on the Buzz Board ...
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/US/techtv_oakeffort031020.html

[Stephen_Wiley]

SOD is not reported to be found in Georgia.

Currently, SOD Phytopthora ramorum is in California and South west Oregon. With intermittent findings in nurseries throughout Oregon.

Two known types of SOD are threatning numerous plant life not just Oaks.  This includes food crops, ornamentals, native, etc. One type is found mainly in Europe the other as I mentioned here in OR and CA.  There was also one report of and infected plant shipped in via Europe to B.C. The orginator of both types is believed to exist in China.  Due to the SARS infection studies have been delayed.

Oregon officials have quarantined these sites and is trying to eradicate this pathogen. California on the other hand is not cooperative (18 different reuglatory districts) and is developing the 'harmful' approach of trying to 'live with it'.

BTW, two other unknown Phytopthora spp. have been discovered since discovery of SOD and research on their significance just started this year.

I have seen this pathogen and it is the most aggressive fungus I have seen.  A leaf dipped in a glass of zoospores, will have invasion and necrosis within a matter of minutes.

Thus the 'Sudden Oak Death'  is a definition of how quickly it will kill susceptible hosts.  

Rebocardo's trees do not present these symptoms. But do express symptoms of decline such as a root fungus, wilt, etc.

[rebocardo]

You know, I am glad I posted this. I was going to order some tree seedlings from the West Coast to replace trees I am cutting down. I think I will stick to a East coast place for now.

[Stephen_Wiley]

As long as you stayed out of California for ordering seedlings, the ones in Oregon and Washington nurseries will be fine.

Oregon authorities are more inclined to prevent spread than is CA.

[Frank_Pender]

Stephen, I am sure glad that Oregon let Tillaway come to Astoria. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)  He just has to get his wife and doughter imported,  as soon a she sells the house. :-/

[Stephen_Wiley]

I am still waiting the opportunity to meet him.

He mailed me the other day, said he is looking forward to the "get together" of forum members here.  

[rebocardo]

Whatever this disease is, I noticed the smaller oak (maybe 18 dbh) which is covered in vines and looks like it has big sacks all over it, is touching another oak tree by one branch. That oak which looks sort of healthy(30+ dbh) now has whatever it is on a branch about 30 feet long, about 14 inches thick, about 25-35 feet off the ground. Bummer.

[Stephen_Wiley]

Rebo,

The sacks you describe might be 'galls' .  Some galls are beneficial.

You should get a consulting forester or arborist to take a look at your trees who has pathological expertise.  

Have you noticed any clumps of mushrooms that are honey brown color either on the tree(s) or underneath the canopies ?

Is the bark near the base of the tree(s) loose?

[rebocardo]

At the base of the tree the bark is fine, where I cut the vines away, though the roots have come above ground with big kurls or knobs on them. About football shaped.

The branches that have fallen or I have pulled down with my winch, have big open sores with black pitch stuff in them. Even so, the wood is pretty hard, I could not cut it with a bow saw.

Seems the flying cockroaches like living in the open sores. They look like big sacks, with one side of the sack open and filled with black goo.

I have decided to take down the tree because it is a hazard in the back yard and the vines are killing the tree. I will see if I can get some good pictures.

I am probably going to hire someone to trim all the dead/infected branches off the 30+ dbh oak where it was touching the other tree.

[L. Wakefield]

   That tree sounds *sick*!  lw

[Stephen_Wiley]

Rebo,

Without seeing the tree in question - I am concerned about the 'kurling or knobs' you describe in the appearance of the roots.

Have these roots been mowed over ? If not, this may be an indication of root disease ( Armillaria spp. or Inonotus spp.). Certainly trees adjacent to this one will also be impacted by the root destroying pathogen. Recommend you have a root examination done on the tree you wish to remove for the purpose of identifying possible pathogen to know how to manage remaining trees.

Black sap you are referring to may be a bacterial disease, or mold on sap from a Polyporus spp. infection.

Since your going to hire someone to trim try and find a qualified (with pathological knowledge) arborist / forester to id the pathogens.

Root pathogens require scrutinization of aggressiveness to determine abatement measures.

May be able to tell you more from pics. But without seeing the tree, root and soil conditions. Can only speculate.