Nooooo! EAB found in Oregon!

[KTSmith]

Thanks Evo for the topic and nudge. Here is my take on the fragility of ash structure and EAB. First by any standards, ash wood has a low resistance to decomposition by wood decay fungi, both because of low wood density and the lack of wood-preserving heartwood extractives. Second, I believe (watch that word again) that wood decay may already be occurring while the tree is still standing and likely undiagnosed. So wood decay is proceeding for months or years before recognition of the problem and treatment/removal is required. Seems sudden due to lack of prior awareness.

My ice storm research brought me to a respectful attitude of the ash lifestyle. Great crown rebuilding after ice breakage. But EAB is another matter.

A 2021 research paper on fungi associated with EAB galleries (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2021.02.004) lists about what you would expect to find at the margin of dying tree tissues plus some entomopathogenic fungi. A second paper by the same team (https://doi.org/10.3390/f12111509) demonstrates that some of those obvious-suspect canker fungi found in galleries do induce canker formation so might play a role in dieback. Oh, I'm not sure if either of those papers in Fungal Biology are open-access. If anyone wants a copy, lemme know.

 

[evo]

Thanks Evo for the topic and nudge. Here is my take on the fragility of ash structure and EAB. First by any standards, ash wood has a low resistance to decomposition by wood decay fungi, both because of low wood density and the lack of wood-preserving heartwood extractives. Second, I believe (watch that word again) that wood decay may already be occurring while the tree is still standing and likely undiagnosed. So wood decay is proceeding for months or years before recognition of the problem and treatment/removal is required. Seems sudden due to lack of prior awareness.

My ice storm research brought me to a respectful attitude of the ash lifestyle. Great crown rebuilding after ice breakage. But EAB is another matter.

A 2021 research paper on fungi associated with EAB galleries (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2021.02.004) lists about what you would expect to find at the margin of dying tree tissues plus some entomopathogenic fungi. A second paper by the same team (https://doi.org/10.3390/f12111509) demonstrates that some of those obvious-suspect canker fungi found in galleries do induce canker formation so might play a role in dieback. Oh, I'm not sure if either of those papers in Fungal Biology are open-access. If anyone wants a copy, lemme know.

Thanks Kevin. Perhaps a endophytic decay fungi laying dormant, and the borer is the tipping point? Rhetorical question for the most part, and that is a mountain of further research!

 

[theatertech87]

It's been in our region in NY for about 10 years... and the last 7-8 of them have been MISERABLE. It's impossible to explain just how badly EAB killed trees suck to work on

That being said; it does move around regionally fairly quickly, but within the region, you'll find pockets that hold out for several years without getting hit too badly (no idea why). There also finding that on the forest scale, there are "lone surviviors" that aren't affected (or minimally so) by the bug. I've encounted 3-4 over the years out of several tens of thousands of dead ash.

Treatments are (mostly) effective if you get after them early. Once the tree starts showing signs of die back your chances of keeping the tree in tip top condition decrease dramatically

 

[evo]

What is the recommend treatment options?

 

[theatertech87]

What is the recommend treatment options?

Beyond my area of expertise as far as products... But the phc side of things has really only found decent success with trunk injections

 

[ATH]

Webe

What is the recommend treatment options?

We've had good results with imidacloprid soil drench if started early. Especially in low pressure situations. Every year in the spring.

No doubt that Tree-age is more effective. We are using the R10 formulation injected with the Quick jet Air. We used Tree IV for a while, but this is quicker...a lot quicker. Every other year (some are going every third year with good results).

Long term cost is completable because of the yearly vs. every other year (with imidacloprid being a little cheaper).

Pros/cons:
Trunk injection means lots of holes in the tree over time.
Soil drench can't be done too close to water and probably less effective in rocky soil.

 

[JD3000]

3 year injections are legit and Imid works well when applied before damage occurs and costs peanuts comparatively