Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Thousand Cankers Disease in Tennessee- What can we do?

Thousand cankers disease of black walnut trees (the beetle Pityophthorus juglandis and the fungus, Geosmithia morbida) has been found in Knoxville, Tennessee. Although it was only recently discovered, it is believed to have been there for a decade or more. So what can we do now? We can do everything in our power to slow and contain the infestation. The more time we buy for the black walnut trees in the Southeast, the more time researchers will have to find ways to manage it and find cultivars resistant to the fungus. The easiest and most effective way for us to help contain this and other pests which infest trees is to stop moving wood from one place to another. Buy local firewood and local wood products. The Rocky Mountain States have been battling this pest for over 20 years. For more information click here.