Selected Forest and Shade Tree Diseases of Significance in the 20th Century

   Dutch elm disease, white pine blister rust, chestnut blight, and sudden oak death - you don't have to be a plant pathologist to know that these tree diseases have caused significant loss of forest or shade trees in the United States. But they're just a few of the tree diseases that impacted the US in the 20th century. The less "famous" diseases are the topic of this month's Feature, as APSnet continues its retrospective of a century of plant pathology to honor the APS centennial.

   Although they are less well known, these diseases described in this month's APSnet Feature have had significant economic and ecological impacts. While some of the diseases developed due to the introduction of exotic pathogens, many became problematic due to introduction of non-adapted or exotic tree species or due to changes in management or local environmental conditions. In all cases, forest pathologists have worked diligently to find the cause of the disease and to devise management schemes.

— APSnet Features Editor, Monica L. Elliott

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