Acute oak decline

Acute oak decline is a new disease that infects oak trees in the UK. It mainly affects mature oak trees of over 50 years old of both of Britain's native oaks: the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and the sessile oak (Quercus petraea). The disease is characterised by the trees bleeding or oozing a dark fluid from small lesions or splits in their bark.^[1] Unlike chronic oak decline, acute oak decline can lead to the death of trees within 4 to 5 years of symptoms appearing. The number of trees affected is not known but is thought to number in the low thousands, with a higher number of infected trees being found in the Midlands. It is thought to be caused by a bacterium; it is currently not known which species is involved, but scientists are actively trying to discover what is responsible.^[2] It is thought that at least three genera of bacteria are responsible.^[3][4]

In some instances the disease is accompanied by insects attacking the trees too, particularly the buprestid beetle, (Agrilus pannonicus). These are not thought to be the cause of the disease but rather they are opportunistically taking advantage of already weakened trees; such infestations further weaken and can hasten the death of trees.^[1]

See also

• Sudden oak death

References