WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic| Mass Injections

Eric Frei · 25th July 2008, 09:50 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.

fatkoala · 25th July 2008, 10:45 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, 02:13 PM

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

OutofMytree · 17th October 2008, 01:57 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.

25th July 2008, 10:45 PM	#2
fatkoala Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mildura Posts: 71	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, 02:13 PM	#3
Hili Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 40	Re: WA's South West Tree Disease Epidemic\| Mass Injections Very interesting story Ekka, will be great to track its progress

17th October 2008, 01:57 AM	#4
OutofMytree Former Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Perth Posts: 345	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.

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