Entering Bourne

Spreading Tree Fungus

Spreading Tree Fungus

by Ana Paulina

(Photographs taken in Bourne and Cape Cod Canal Region)

"It was like walking through a green dawn, this fungus is beginning to cake everything in its path, including stone." -Ana Paulina

"Tree-Killing Fungus Officially Named by Scientists"

"Raffaelea lauricola fungus responsible for killing
redbay and other trees in the coastal plains."

"Early this year, I noticed a light camouflaged coating on the Cape Cod Canal area trees.
At first, it appeared to have been  spray painted on, and lately,  there's an expanding increase in growth infestation  with every rainfall."-Ana Paulina

"Raffaelea lauricola  ( The "fungus" (that Stephen Fraedrich has studied is speading in the Southeast. ) is one of many species of fungi carried by ambrosia beetles, a group of highly specialized wood-boring insects that feed on symbiotic fungi, which they carry from tree to tree in specialized sacs. The beetles feed on their own special ambrosia fungi, much as the Greek gods were believed to exist on their "ambrosia." R. lauricola is the principle ambrosia fungus of an invasive species from Asia, the redbay ambrosia beetle. R. lauricola is the only known tree pathogen among the ambrosia fungi and differs from other Raffaelea species in its DNA sequence and spore sizes. The fungus also grows faster than similar fungi."

More information could be found in this link.

Signs and Symptoms of Laurel Wilt include;
Rapid wilting trees
Sapwood discoloration
Reddish to purplish brown discoloration of foliage

 Diseases of Widespread Occurrence

Many tree problems are caused by the action of one or more living organisms. Organisms which cause disease are called pathogens. The most common tree pathogens are fungi, a large and diverse group of plants lacking chlorophyll which derive their nourishment by parasitizing green plants, thereby causing disease. Most fungi are microscopic, but a few, especially the wood-rotting fungi, produce large, often colorful, fruiting bodies as mushrooms or conks. Some tree diseases are also caused by bacteria and viruses.

Some types of pathogens infect many different tree species with similar disease symptoms. Other pathogens attack only a specific tree or only certain cultivars of a tree. Diseases of the first type will be considered in this section. Diseases unique to specific trees will be considered under the tree name in the second section on Parasitic Diseases of Specific Trees, see here.

So, will we survive this spreading fungus or will the fungus survive us?

Photographical Property and Work of ©Ana Paulina 2009