Coast Forest RegionCoast Forest Region

Pathology UpdatePathology Update

Yellow-cedar DeclineYellow-cedar Decline

Currently upwards of 30,000 ha identifiedCurrently upwards of 30,000 ha identified Initiated pilot study in 2007 in co-Initiated pilot study in 2007 in co-

operation with UBC Dendrochronology operation with UBC Dendrochronology LabLab

Objective is tObjective is to quantify onset and o quantify onset and magnitude of growth decline of magnitude of growth decline of symptomatic/dead cedar relative to symptomatic/dead cedar relative to asymptomatic cedarasymptomatic cedar

Four sites sampled (about 250 trees) in Four sites sampled (about 250 trees) in the North Coast Forest Districtthe North Coast Forest District

Report by June 2008Report by June 2008

What’s next?What’s next? Initiate photo interpretive work to Initiate photo interpretive work to

quantify area affected and implications quantify area affected and implications for timber supply (via UBC Geography for timber supply (via UBC Geography Dept)Dept)

Further work expanding dendro sites Further work expanding dendro sites down to mid and south coastal areas down to mid and south coastal areas (via UBC Dendro Lab)(via UBC Dendro Lab)

Need studies to clarify environmental Need studies to clarify environmental and ecological conditions common to and ecological conditions common to sites experiencing declinesites experiencing decline

Yellow-cedar DeclineYellow-cedar Decline

Septoria musivaSeptoria musiva

An “exotic” fungus (=An “exotic” fungus (=Mycosphaerella Mycosphaerella populorumpopulorum) native to eastern North ) native to eastern North America that causes leaf spotting and America that causes leaf spotting and cankers on balsam poplar, aspen and cankers on balsam poplar, aspen and hybrid poplarshybrid poplars

Confirmed on two hybrid poplar clones at Confirmed on two hybrid poplar clones at a private nursery in Harrison Mills last a private nursery in Harrison Mills last AugustAugust

Potential to spread to plantations of Potential to spread to plantations of hybrid poplars and to establish on native hybrid poplars and to establish on native black cottonwoodblack cottonwood

Septoria musivaSeptoria musiva

What did we do?What did we do? Learned about the diseaseLearned about the disease Organized a working group comprised of Organized a working group comprised of

reps from MFR, CFS and company to reps from MFR, CFS and company to discuss and oversight activitiesdiscuss and oversight activities

Initiated quick survey and sampling of Initiated quick survey and sampling of nursery and surrounding plantationsnursery and surrounding plantations

Recruited MAL Diagnostics Lab to Recruited MAL Diagnostics Lab to conduct PCR tests on field samples to conduct PCR tests on field samples to confirm confirm S. musivaS. musiva and UBC forest and UBC forest pathology lab to do quality controlpathology lab to do quality control

PCR test resultsPCR test results

163 samples processed from hybrid 163 samples processed from hybrid poplars collected at 13 sites in poplars collected at 13 sites in November.November.

Sites included production stoolbeds at Sites included production stoolbeds at nursery and plantations in Fraser Valley.nursery and plantations in Fraser Valley.

43 successful43 successful Septoria Septoria cultures across cultures across all sites but one (as of January 18).all sites but one (as of January 18).

41 PCR-positives across all cultures.41 PCR-positives across all cultures. Therefore, all sampled sites but two are Therefore, all sampled sites but two are

positive for positive for S. musivaS. musiva..

PCR test resultsPCR test resultsCloneClone S. musivaS. musiva

positivepositiveIn In

productionproductionCloneClone S. musivaS. musiva

positivepositiveIn In

productionproductionT X D 1T X D 1 YesYes YesYes T X M 5T X M 5 YesYes YesYes

T X D 2T X D 2 NoNo YesYes T X N 1T X N 1 UnkUnk YesYes

T X D 3T X D 3 UnkUnk YesYes Clone AClone A YesYes YesYes

T X D 4T X D 4 YesYes YesYes Clone BClone B UnkUnk YesYes

T X D 5T X D 5 YesYes DestroyedDestroyed Clone CClone C UnkUnk YesYes

T X M 1T X M 1 YesYes DestroyedDestroyed Clone DClone D UnkUnk YesYes

T X M 2T X M 2 UnkUnk YesYes Clone EClone E YesYes PendingPending

T X M 3T X M 3 YesYes DestroyedDestroyed Clone FClone F UnkUnk YesYes

T X M 4T X M 4 YesYes DestroyedDestroyed Clone GClone G UnkUnk YesYes

What’s next?What’s next? Company has asked for emergency Company has asked for emergency

registration of Folicur 432F for use in registration of Folicur 432F for use in nursery and plantations. Rotate use with nursery and plantations. Rotate use with Senator 70WP to provide control and Senator 70WP to provide control and defeat resistance.defeat resistance.

Over the next year, monitor nursery area Over the next year, monitor nursery area and plantations for further appearance of and plantations for further appearance of S. musivaS. musiva..

Examine black cottonwood clonal trial in Examine black cottonwood clonal trial in Harrison Mills for appearance of Harrison Mills for appearance of S. musivaS. musiva..

Septoria musivaSeptoria musiva