Sooty bark on maple, horse chestnut, dog wood and more

evo

evo

Been here much more than a while
Location
My Island, WA
I just learned about the spread of Sooty Bark found in Seattle. A client of mine informed me about this, and they think they have it on their trees. I’m about to mask up and go take a look, but any info on the best way to handle this is appreciated. Everything from which lab, to how to handle the material. Sounds like the recommendation is to limit chainsaw use, remove during rain, cover while transporting, and burn.

if this is what I’m dealing with I’d like to just torch it onsite. Issue is rain is a few months out, and we have a burn ban.
@KTSmith @JD3000
 
evo said:
I just learned about the spread of Sooty Bark found in Seattle. A client of mine informed me about this, and they think they have it on their trees. I’m about to mask up and go take a look, but any info on the best way to handle this is appreciated. Everything from which lab, to how to handle the material. Sounds like the recommendation is to limit chainsaw use, remove during rain, cover while transporting, and burn.

if this is what I’m dealing with I’d like to just torch it onsite. Issue is rain is a few months out, and we have a burn ban.
@KTSmith @JD3000
Click to expand...
No idea but let us know
 
JeffGu said:
Sounds very bad. Better wear a thingy.
Click to expand...
But I don't want to wear a thingy!

We are in the middle of a epic fire ban/drought (for good reason), I'm having visions of tyvek suits and asking the FD to 'Make it Rain' as I remove the tree and burn it onsite... Fuck this shit..
 
Thanks for the nudge!
The human disease from contact with the causal fungus of sooty bark disease was considered quite rare when first described (in the 1960s, I believe), but it continues to occur! A sticky part of management is that the Cryptostroma corticale fungus can persist as a latent infection in non-symptomatic trees.
The most recent research on it that I know of is out of the University of Ljubljana. Lots of guides on the internet about it...none of which are particularly satisfying!
 
Thanks Kevin. It seems to date there are about 46 trees with confirmed infections spaced widely throughout Seattle proper. The interesting thing is it’s expanded it’s hosts outside of Acer! Big leaf maple and pacific dogwood are two species which is now is infecting, and of great concern. I love trees, landscape plantings and otherwise but my passion is with out natives. Both bigleaf and pacific dogwood are declining rapidly throughout their ranges, and now there is this!
Its quite possible that it’s been here since the 60’s and has gone undetected. However, with the warmer temps and droughts (and dna molecular testing) we now are looking closer?
Word is from some arborist friends who are more in the loop in Seattle proper is that the infected trees are still standing, and no one knows what to do about them (or wants anything to do with them).
It sounds like the recommended removal practice is to mechanize as much as possible, limit chainsaw use, remove during a rain event, cover and transport to burn. Unfortunately, we don’t have anywhere to transport them to (and I rather not transport) not to mention the whole state is under a governor instituted burn ban.

KTSmith said:
Thanks for the nudge!
The human disease from contact with the causal fungus of sooty bark disease was considered quite rare when first described (in the 1960s, I believe), but it continues to occur! A sticky part of management is that the Cryptostroma corticale fungus can persist as a latent infection in non-symptomatic trees.
The most recent research on it that I know of is out of the University of Ljubljana. Lots of guides on the internet about it...none of which are particularly satisfying!
Click to expand...
 
JD3000 said:
Apparently not a big issue?
forestpathology.org

Sooty-Bark Disease of Maple | Forest Pathology

Sooty-bark disease of maple trees has an unusual, twisted story. It’s becoming more widespread in Europe, and is now causing disease in northwestern North America.
forestpathology.org forestpathology.org
Click to expand...
That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Seems like it’s not a big deal here, but maybe killed someone in the UK so they developed a safety protocol. (Higher safety standards, blah blah). But now it’s here, so what protocol do we go with. None of the people in the Seattle media are wearing any kind of mask (even COVID mask)
 
whenever possible we leave the wood onsite, apparently after 1 year the wood is considered safe. respirators while working with the stuff fo sure.
 
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