Acute oak decline
Acute oak decline is a disease that infects oak trees in the UK. It mainly affects mature oak trees of over 50 years old of both Britain's native oak species: the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and the sessile oak (Quercus petraea). The disease is characterised by the trees bleeding or oozing a dark fluid from small lesions or splits in their bark.[1] Unlike chronic oak decline, acute oak decline can lead to the death of trees within 4 to 5 years of symptoms appearing. The number of trees affected is thought to number in the low thousands, with a higher number of infected trees being found in the Midlands. It is thought to be caused by a bacterium; it is currently not known which species is involved, but scientists are actively trying to discover what is responsible.[2] At least three genera of bacteria are possibly responsible.[3][4]
| Acute oak decline | |
|---|---|
 Stem bleeding in a tree affected with Acute oak decline | |
| Causal agents | thought to be caused by a bacterium |
| Hosts | Oaks |
| Distribution | United Kingdom |
In some instances, the disease is accompanied by insects attacking the trees, too, particularly the oak splendour beetle, (Agrilus biguttatus). These are not thought to be the cause of the disease, but rather they are opportunistically taking advantage of already weakened trees; such infestations further weaken and can hasten the death of trees.[1]
References
- "Symptoms of chronic oak decline". Forest Research. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- "What is acute oak decline?". Forest research. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- "Scientists Identify Bacteria in Loughborough Trees affected by Acute Oak Decline". Loughborough News. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- Kinver, Mark (28 April 2010). "Oak disease 'threatens landscape'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
Further reading
- Brady, C.; Denman, S.; Kirk, S.; Venter, S.; Rodríguez-Palenzuela, P.; Coutinho, T. (2010). "Description of Gibbsiella quercinecans gen. nov., sp. nov., associated with Acute Oak Decline". Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 33 (8): 444–450. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2010.08.006. PMID 21115313.