WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic| Mass Injections

Eric Frei · 25th July 2008, 10:50 AM

Trees jabbed for survival?(ScienceAlert)

Quote:

Trees jabbed for survival

Friday, 25 July 2008

Scientists are injecting native trees in WA’s South-West with a potent mixture of nutrients and fungicide in a race to save dwindling populations from extinction.

The ‘booster shots’ are an 11th-hour bid to keep the trees alive while researchers at the new Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health (ECCWFH), based at Murdoch University, search for a solution to their deteriorating health.

"The situation is becoming so dire that you are pushed to find a healthy tree in many parts of the South-West and Wheatbelt," says centre director Professor Giles Hardy.

Native trees began to mysteriously decline en masse in the early 1990s, with researchers suggesting a combination of drought, salinity, erosion and changes in soil microbiology, as well as a newly-identified type of Phytophthora plant pathogen found to be infecting many native trees.

"If you go out to places like Lake Clifton, every single tree is dead."

Sick tuarts found only in WA, no longer produce fruit and seeds and could die out within a generation.

Professor Hardy says marri, wandoo, flooded gum, jarrah and peppermint are also on the endangered list.

"We are getting very worried about marri. A lot of people are starting to contact us about dying marri, and when people start to notice, you know the problem is serious.

"WA peppermint trees are also starting to die, even in urban areas, and they are a very important habitat of the ringtail possum."

Hundreds of trees in Yanchep and Yalgorup National Park, 130km south of Perth, are trialing the injections, which is seeing them sprout new leaves and fresh growth within six months.

"It’s like giving a human a flu jab," says Professor Hardy.

"This is giving us some hope that the trees can be kept alive while we continue to do research."

The ECCWFH is pursuing both national and international collaborations in its research and the trial could be expanded to encompass thousands more trees.

The cocktail of supplements injected contains trace elements including zinc, manganese and iron, as well as liquid phosphite, a biodegradable fungicide which boosts the trees’ immune response.

Sunraysia Tree Solutions · 25th July 2008, 11:45 PM

What a coincidence been doing a little reasearch on Cypress canker and come across this artical, they a using stem injection of phosphoric acide (various trade names) this is usually used to control phytophora in avocado in commerical situations,

Hili · 26th July 2008, 03:13 PM

Very interesting story Ekka, will be great to track its progress

OutofMytree · 17th October 2008, 02:57 AM

Interesting.

I am keen to follow up on the treatment of Seiridium Canker and the treatment applied in this article, along with removal of damaged limbs and thorough irrigation for weeks/months afterward seems to be the most consistant treatment I can find recommended.

Does anyone have any other suggestions with supporting evidence?

Bear in mind that I live/work in a "mediterranean" climate, with sandy soil and low rainfall. Conifers do grow here but do not thrive and seem very very susceptable to this disease.

Currently the usual treatment is pruning 1 inch off the ground. I believe we can do better.

Eric Frei · 17th October 2011, 11:59 PM

One has to wonder .... 3 years later still issues but the way the press etc put it across it sounds like a new epidemic which it is not.

I wonder if it is the same thing as our spottygum disease here in Brisbane?

‘Lungs of the Southwest’ under attack | oneperth.com.au

Quote:

Posted on 17 October 2011

Thousands of Marri trees throughout WA’s Southwest are dying or already dead from a devastating form of tree cancer, known as Marri canker.

Murdoch University researchers Giles Hardy and George Matusick today said the The Marri canker epidemic was threatening more than 80 per cent of all Marri trees along Caves Road and the Bussell Highway.

“Marri is an iconic tree species in Western Australia but this cancer is destroying them and therefore the character and beauty of our famous Margaret River wine region is suffering,” Professor Hardy said.

“Currently the Marri canker is not completely understood and there are no known solutions.

“We are running out of time to find them.”

Professor Hardy said the deaths were hitting biodiversity hard.

For example, the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo relies on the Marri’s large fruit, known as honky nuts, for food.

“Collapsing trees with falling branches pose a significant hazard for pedestrians and drivers,” he added.

“It is very costly to remove these dead trees and repair the damage they do to fences and powerlines.

“But the cost to the tourism industry in the region could be even more devastating.”

Professor Hardy and Dr Matusick have also found that 17,000 hectares of of Jarrah forest from the Perth Hills to Collie have suddenly collapsed and died after drought. Wandoo, Tuart and WA Peppermint have also shown severe recent declines, with some of the dead trees estimated to be at least 150 years old.

“The collapse follows one of the hottest and driest summers on record and years of climate change,” Dr Matusick said.

“All the climate change models point to an even drier and hotter climate for southwest WA so it’s vitally important that we do something now to protect what is an iconic and vitally important habitat for native species of flora and fauna.

“These trees are the lungs of the Southwest.

“They provide us with our clean, fresh air, they provide habitat for our flora and fauna and Western Australians have a huge emotional tie to their native forests.”

Cancer killing Margaret River marri trees | Perth Now

Quote:

October 18, 2011
THOUSANDS of marri trees in Margaret River are dying or dead from a 'devastating' tree cancer, researchers warn.

Marri trees are dying from canker disease in the South-West. Picture credit: Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health. Source: PerthNow

More than 80 per cent of the marri trees along Caves Road, Bussell Highway and surrounding farmland are severely infected with canker – a fungus that kills tree tissue within years of infection, Murdoch University scientists have discovered.

The dead and collapsing trees are a peril for drivers in one of WA’s most prized tourism destinations as dead branches and limbs fall onto busy South-West roads.

Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health director Giles Hardy said there is no cure for the disease.

“Marri is an iconic tree species in Western Australia, but this cancer is destroying them and therefore the character and beauty of our famous Margaret River wine region is suffering,” Prof Hardy said.

“The deaths are impacting on flora and fauna biodiversity in the region. For example, the carnaby’s black cockatoo rely on the Marri’s large fruit, known as honky nuts, for food.

PerthNow revealed in September that large areas of northern jarrah forest in the Perth Hills have suddenly collapsed and died from drought and may never recover.

Wandoo, Tuart and WA Peppermint have also shown severe recent declines, with some of the dead trees between 150 and 200-years-old.

Centre ecologist Dr George Matusick said the cancer is particularly severe in the Margaret River region.

“Because marri is the one of the most common tree species along roadways, farmers' fields and paddocks and along the edges of bush around people’s homes, it’s going to become very economically important disease because of the amount of money that will need to be spent on taking trees out,” Dr Matusick said.

“It’s a serious concern.”

“Driving down the South-West Highway you can see trees are falling, branches are breaking, it’s a very dangerous as well for motorists. “

“These trees are the lungs of the South-West. They provide us with our clean, fresh air, they provide habitat for our flora and fauna and Western Australians have a huge emotional tie to their native forests,” Dr Matsuick said.

The researchers say they are in desperate need of funding to better study the tree crisis plaguing Perth and the South-West.

Murdoch University and University of Western Australia scientists, the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Water Corporation, University of Tasmania and the University of British Columbia will meet at a symposium on October 21 in Henley Brook to discuss the problem.

To show your support and help the researchers secure funding from the Federal Government's research grant program contact Annora at a.longhurst@murdoch.edu.au.

typical-council-worker · 24th November 2011, 01:15 AM

I work as an Arborist for The City of Bunbury. Majority of our Marri's are in decline or have symptoms of Quambilaria but it's also affecting other species. I've tried to no avail to get some kind of treatment plan going but no one wants to listen. It always comes down to money but when it's our environment at stake you would think someone would listen. Been trying hard to change these guys attitudes toward tree maintenance (mainly correcting bad pruning technique&the lack of pest&disease control) for almost 6 years. It's very hard when you have no back up&2 blokes go maintain ALL the trees in Bunbury is just a little ridiculous . My supervisor who inspects some of our trees doesn't even have ANY Arb quals or experience . I'm determined to have a positive impact. Pity I don't have anyone to back me up.

Eric Frei · 24th November 2011, 08:38 AM

Or how about this.

Behind the scenes some-one in a prominent position uses that to get funding (a research grant) to investigate, but they are not a plant pathologist etc so in essence the funding did not go to the appropriate person/institution.

I've sent you a PM of who to contact for help, it is a very strong source and contact them. You cannot respond to my PM but you can read it.

25th July 2008, 11:45 PM	#2
Sunraysia Tree Solutions Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mildura Posts: 111	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections What a coincidence been doing a little reasearch on Cypress canker and come across this artical, they a using stem injection of phosphoric acide (various trade names) this is usually used to control phytophora in avocado in commerical situations,

26th July 2008, 03:13 PM	#3
Hili Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 34	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections Very interesting story Ekka, will be great to track its progress

17th October 2008, 02:57 AM	#4
OutofMytree Former Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Perth Posts: 307	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections Interesting. I am keen to follow up on the treatment of Seiridium Canker and the treatment applied in this article, along with removal of damaged limbs and thorough irrigation for weeks/months afterward seems to be the most consistant treatment I can find recommended. Does anyone have any other suggestions with supporting evidence? Bear in mind that I live/work in a "mediterranean" climate, with sandy soil and low rainfall. Conifers do grow here but do not thrive and seem very very susceptable to this disease. Currently the usual treatment is pruning 1 inch off the ground. I believe we can do better.

24th November 2011, 01:15 AM	#6
typical-council-worker I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bunbury,w.a. Posts: 3	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections I work as an Arborist for The City of Bunbury. Majority of our Marri's are in decline or have symptoms of Quambilaria but it's also affecting other species. I've tried to no avail to get some kind of treatment plan going but no one wants to listen. It always comes down to money but when it's our environment at stake you would think someone would listen. Been trying hard to change these guys attitudes toward tree maintenance (mainly correcting bad pruning technique&the lack of pest&disease control) for almost 6 years. It's very hard when you have no back up&2 blokes go maintain ALL the trees in Bunbury is just a little ridiculous . My supervisor who inspects some of our trees doesn't even have ANY Arb quals or experience . I'm determined to have a positive impact. Pity I don't have anyone to back me up.

24th November 2011, 08:38 AM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,814	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections Or how about this. Behind the scenes some-one in a prominent position uses that to get funding (a research grant) to investigate, but they are not a plant pathologist etc so in essence the funding did not go to the appropriate person/institution. I've sent you a PM of who to contact for help, it is a very strong source and contact them. You cannot respond to my PM but you can read it. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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