The elusive blight fungus.
During the first and second days at Dalaoling, we spent a good deal of time trying to find true signs/symptoms of the chestnut blight. There were many lesions (see lesion photo below) and sites of some sort of infection (see witches broom photo below), but did not find any that could truly be identified as being caused by Cryphonectria parasitica.
On the third day, our group worked to take data on the trees we had found. During the morning, we took data up on a hill along the first site we looked at during day one. It was there that we found the fungus (pics below).
Maybe this one has some?
This one looks very promising . . .
It most definitely is the blight! First definite confirmed case with stroma and necrosis (though still not as bad as can be found on American chestnuts. This specimen was a small sprout in very heavy competition in the understory.
We are still unsure as to what is causing many wounds and lesions on the other trees above. There is an insect that causes similar damage found in the second picture. What is causing the witches broom is unknown, though there are many burls that may be found at the base of each clump. Several samples were sent with Dr. He Wei to sample. We will be meeting with him in the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 25 to see if he isolated any Cryphonectria parasitica from those sample.
On the third day, our group worked to take data on the trees we had found. During the morning, we took data up on a hill along the first site we looked at during day one. It was there that we found the fungus (pics below).
Is the blight fungus causing these witches brooms?
Maybe this one has some?
This one looks very promising . . .
It most definitely is the blight! First definite confirmed case with stroma and necrosis (though still not as bad as can be found on American chestnuts. This specimen was a small sprout in very heavy competition in the understory.
We are still unsure as to what is causing many wounds and lesions on the other trees above. There is an insect that causes similar damage found in the second picture. What is causing the witches broom is unknown, though there are many burls that may be found at the base of each clump. Several samples were sent with Dr. He Wei to sample. We will be meeting with him in the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 25 to see if he isolated any Cryphonectria parasitica from those sample.
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