Extended Abstract: The acute decline of oak trees has become increasingly common in Apulia, leading to growing concern about the long-term future of oak trees. It occurs very quickly, causing significant damage and problems to several species, which show a poor state of health (Denman et al., 2014). In England, the country of origin of this phenomenon, there are two types of decline: one that has a slow effect and another that has a rapid effect (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/pest-and-disease-resources/acuteoak-decline/). The latter is creating several problems in Apulia, consequence of combinations of biotic and abiotic factors, and this is also the view for the Oak decline. Insects, fungi, and drought can act as predisposing factors that begin the decline process (Manion, 1991), which leads to the mortality of the plant within a few years of the first symptoms appearing. Progressive deterioration and desiccation of foliage normally occur on mature plants but can also occur on young plants. A general weakening of the plant, added to a series of disturbing factors and environmental stresses, causes a greater decrease in the resilience of the plant. The observed symptoms are: 1. dark spots on the stem (stem haemorrhages), in the early stages only one or a few haemorrhages, but in more advanced cases many bleeding spots (Figure 1); 2. the characteristic '0' or 'O' shaped exit holes of the xylophagous beetles Buprestidae and Cerambycidae, which lay their eggs under the bark during the summer. Hatched larvae feed under the cambium for up to 2-3 years before adult emerging.
Acute oak decline in Apulia Region: symptomatology of ultra-rapid tree’s desiccation
Santarcangelo V. M.;Altieri G. M.;Nigro F.;Tarasco E.
2023-01-01
Abstract
Extended Abstract: The acute decline of oak trees has become increasingly common in Apulia, leading to growing concern about the long-term future of oak trees. It occurs very quickly, causing significant damage and problems to several species, which show a poor state of health (Denman et al., 2014). In England, the country of origin of this phenomenon, there are two types of decline: one that has a slow effect and another that has a rapid effect (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/pest-and-disease-resources/acuteoak-decline/). The latter is creating several problems in Apulia, consequence of combinations of biotic and abiotic factors, and this is also the view for the Oak decline. Insects, fungi, and drought can act as predisposing factors that begin the decline process (Manion, 1991), which leads to the mortality of the plant within a few years of the first symptoms appearing. Progressive deterioration and desiccation of foliage normally occur on mature plants but can also occur on young plants. A general weakening of the plant, added to a series of disturbing factors and environmental stresses, causes a greater decrease in the resilience of the plant. The observed symptoms are: 1. dark spots on the stem (stem haemorrhages), in the early stages only one or a few haemorrhages, but in more advanced cases many bleeding spots (Figure 1); 2. the characteristic '0' or 'O' shaped exit holes of the xylophagous beetles Buprestidae and Cerambycidae, which lay their eggs under the bark during the summer. Hatched larvae feed under the cambium for up to 2-3 years before adult emerging.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
