Forest pathology

Forest pathology is the research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of the forest or tree, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors. It is a subfield of forestry and plant pathology.

Abiotic factors

Moisture: drought, winter-drying, waterlogging. Precipitation: hail, snow, storm.

Wind

As Windthrow directly is one mechanism. Loss of stability – often see that in the case of a wind-throw event. If speed is say 80 km per hour then trees that have root rot are thrown. Whereas needs higher speed for healthy trees, say 125 km per h.

Fire

Lightning. Nutrient imbalances: deficiencies, chemicals (toxic salts, herbicides, air pollutants). Temperature: low, high.

Biotic factors

Fungi: Ascomycota. Oomycetes: Phytophthora. Bacteria. Phytoplasmas. Viruses.

Parasitic flowering plants

• Many plants can parasitize trees via root to root contact. Many of these parasitic plants originate in the tropic and subtropic climates.

Animals

nematodes, insects especially bark beetles, mammals may browse. this can be prevented with Tree shelters

Hazard trees

• The likelihood of property damage or personal injury due to tree failure. Hazard includes not only the tree's condition, but the potential target as well. Rating systems, procedures and guidelines have been developed for decision making but knowledge, judgement, and experience are an important part to the process.

See also

• Allelopathy
• Disturbance (ecology)
• Armillaria sp of which cause white rot root disease
• Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus which causes as Ash Dieback
• Heterobasidion annosum which causes Annosum or red root rot
• White Pine Blister Rust
• Chestnut blight
• Dutch elm disease
• Emerald ash borer
• Olive tree pathology
• Girdling
• Forest dieback
• Forest IPM
• Outline of forestry
• Robert Hartig
• Forest Pathology (journal)
• Secondary forest

• ==References==

Further reading

• Tainter, Frank H., and Fred A. Baker . Principles of Forest Pathology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.
• European Journal of Forest Pathology (Eur J Forest Pathol), Springer, ISSN 0300-1237 (printed), ISSN 1573-8469 (electronic), 1895–present, 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.054

External links

• Forest & Shade Tree Pathology
• Forest pathology team at INRA Nancy, France
• Hazard Trees