Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab-
WHAT Wednesday Videos
Category Archives: trees
Student Worker (Oak) Branches Out
Written by Michael Giedraitis – TPDDL Student Worker; Edited by Hannah Ayala – Extension Assistant Background It was an exciting summer and fall at the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Alongside all our normal duties involved in operating the clinic, I was given the opportunity to work on the development of a new method for diagnosing oak wilt. Our current protocol is to break down infected branch samples sent to us and set them to incubate on petri plates in specialized media for two weeks. We check these… Read More →
Have you or your beloved Christmas Tree been affected by Dothistroma?
Written by Christina Lanzoni – TPDDL Student Worker; Edited by Hannah Ayala – Extension Assistant ‘Twas the day before Christmas and all through the night Spores were dispersing causing Dothistroma needle blight It’s that time of year again where everyone is out buying Christmas trees to decorate their homes. Without proper care, those trees would not be available for us to put gifts under. One of the most common foliar diseases seen in pine trees is Dothistroma needle blight. It affects the needles of over 30 different species… Read More →
I’m a Leaf Baller, Insect Galler!
Written by Megan Turner – TPDDL Student Worker; Edited by Hannah Ayala – Extension Assistant Have you noticed strange bumps or swelling on your tree leaves? There could be something living in there! More than 2000 species of insects in the United States create these bumps, properly termed galls, to protect their young while they are developing. While most commonly caused by tiny wasps, they can also be caused by other insects, mites, nematodes, bacteria, and fungi. Eighty percent of galls reported in the US are found on… Read More →
Does your BadonkaCONK cause Butt Rot?
Written by Javier Garza – TPDDL Student Worker; Edited by Hannah Ayala – Extension Assistant Ganoderma rot is caused by the genus of fungi Ganoderma, a basidiomycete which has several species that cause the disease (G. zonatum, G. applanatum, G. lucidum). Ganoderma spp. have a wide range of hosts and can attack gymnosperms, woody dicots, and even some palms. However, oaks, maples, and honeylocusts are particularly susceptible to this disease. The symptoms of Ganoderma spp. may include yellowing, stunted growth, wilting, dead branches, or a high proportion of… Read More →
Rapid Decline of Oaks
Ms. Sheila McBride (TPDDL diagnostician) and Dr. David Appel, Extension Plant Pathologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service contributed this article to address the numerous inquires that has been received this year regarding declining oak trees -KO This year, beginning in the early spring to late summer, there has been many inquiries as to why the post oaks have “suddenly” died. The most frequent symptoms have been described as a rapid appearance of chlorotic (yellow) and/or necrotic (brown and dead) leaves throughout the entire crown. The leaves often… Read More →
