Pathology research and services

 

Oak dieback

Trees suffer from a wide array of diseases and disorders. Some are caused by living agents, such as fungi and bacteria, others by non-living agents such as frost and drought. Yet others are of complex origin, involving the interaction of several causal agents.

New problems are constantly appearing as a result of changes in the behaviour of disease-causing organisms, in tree care practices, in features of the environment, etc.

It is the role of the pathologist to investigate instances of damage, determine the cause and develop control measures or management strategies.

Pathology research within Forest Research encompasses trees in all settings:

• Ancient woodlands
• Commercial plantations
• Parks, gardens and streets.

Research programmes

Pathology research contributes to programmes within:

• Climate change
• Protecting trees
• Woodlands and the environment.

Research includes:

• Biological control of conifer root and butt rot
• Condition survey of non-woodland amenity trees
• Dieback of birch
• Disease diagnosis and advice
• Dutch elm disease in Britain
• Impact of Phytophthora diseases on trees
• Modelling of Heterobasidion annosum in Europe (MOHIEF)
• Non-chemical protection against pathogens
• Oak decline / dieback
• Red band needle blight
• Risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum (RAPRA)
• Supproting EU protected Zone status for various pests and pathogens
• Tree health monitoring
• Woodland survey of Phytophthora ramorum.

Disease diagnosis and advice

Information on disease problems is in great demand by foresters and arboriculturists. Pathologists in Forest Research produce books, leaflets, photo-guides and computer applications that can be used by experts, forest managers and the layman to identify some of the causes of ill-health. These include:

• Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service
  This service provides nationwide diagnosis, identification and advice on tree diseases
• Tree Doctor
  An interactive PC program for tree owners, woodland managers and education, to identify the diseases of your forest and amenity trees. This helps you identify the most frequent pathological conditions - caused by insects, fungi, bacteria and abiotic factors through a fast, simple symptom recognition approach.

Publications

Path News - the pathology bulletin for forestry and trees.

Related publications

Contact

Pathological expertise within Forest Research is centred in the Tree Health Division.

For further information contact:

Joan Webber
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: 01420 22255
Fax: 01420 23653
Email: joan.webber@forestry.gsi.gov.uk