Options for Effective Forest Management of the Oak Wilt Fungus (Bretziella fagacearum) in the Eastern United States

Abstract

Oak wilt is a fungal related disease that is caused by the oak wilt fungus (Bretziella fagacearum [Bretz] Z.W. De Beer, S. Marincowitz, T.A. Duong, and M.J. Wingfield) which is an introduced vascular wilt fungus that mainly infects oak species (Quercus spp.). The purpose of this review paper is to provide an update on the environmental challenges that are contributing to the spread of oak wilt as well as providing an overview of the forest management options that are available to reduce its spread. This disease has killed millions of oaks in the Midwest and Texas and impacts forest health in the Eastern United States as well. As climate change shifts ranges northward, the distribution of oak wilt is predicted to spread north to Canada. Forest managers, landscapers, and researchers use various management techniques to mitigate the impacts the disease causes to economy, biodiversity, and aesthetics. Current management emphasizes removal of trees near or in the infection center to limit the overland mode of spread.  To contain the underground mode of spread, root graft connections between oak trees needs to be severed.  Monitoring is key to limiting the spread of oak wilt and will require a combination of remote sensing based technologies and nventory plot network for effective ground-truthing.