Sassafras at an Impasse? An Update on Laurel Wilt in Southern Forests
Webinar Details
When:
Apr 17, 2024 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 01:00 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Presenter(s):
- Dr. Bud Mayfield - Research Entomologist, US Forest Service - Southern Research Station
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
Dr. Bud Mayfield (Research Entomologist – US Forest Service) will discuss laurel wilt and give an update on recent developments in disease spread, impact, and management.
Katy Crout, Clemson Extension
Laurel wilt is a vascular tree disease complex that was first detected in the United States in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia. It has since spread to several states across the southeast as far west as Texas and north to Virginia and Kentucky. Laurel wilt is caused by the pathogenic fungus Harringtonia lauricola (formerly Raffaelea lauricola) and primarily vectored by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB; Xyleborus glabratus). Although first observed in redbay trees, any member of the lauraceae family is a potential host for this disease that produces discolored, wilting foliage, and potential host mortality. Since its introduction to the United States, laurel wilt has been responsible for the death of millions of redbay trees plus a large number of sassafras trees. In this webinar, Dr. Bud Mayfield will give an update on laurel wilts progression across the southeast, its impact, and potential management strategies.
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