On madrone, the pathogen causes leaf spots and cankers on small branches. On bay, the pathogen has only been recovered from the leaves. The pathogen has not been demonstrated to kill these tree species but the findings are significant because these foliar infections may allow for the rapid build-up of Phytophthora. The infections may serve as a reservoir for inoculum increasing the risk of infection of susceptible oaks and tanoak. So far, the technique can identify the new Phytophthora associated with Sudden Oak Death from fungal cultures and leaves infected by the pathogen.
Work is underway to refine the technique for identification from bark and wood.
Garbelotto will meet with representatives from CA Department of Food and Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture in May to share the PCR protocol so it can be used to confirm samples from surveys and submissions by County Agriculture departments and others. Regulations Resolutions calling for continued research funding and regulations to prevent spread of Sudden Oak Death were passed by the Eastern Plant Board and Western Plant Board at their spring meetings. These boards are comprised of representatives from state agriculture departments in the Eastern and Western United States. The Southern Plant Board passed a similar resolution in February 2001. The survey will be carried out this summer and will focus on delimiting pathogen location in border areas of counties adjacent to known infested counties.