Minimum Temperature for Methyl Bromide Eradication of Ceratocystis fagacearum in Red Oak Log Pieces. Elmer L. Schmidt, Department of Forest Products, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108. Plant Dis. 67:1338-1339. Accepted for publication 9 June 1983. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-1338.

Fumigation of naturally infected red oak log segments with methyl bromide eliminated the oak wilt fungus (Ceratocystis fagacearum) in sapwood at temperatures as low as 0 C. Fungus survival was sporadic in log sections fumigated at –5 C and subsequently aired for 4 days at 0 C. Fumigations at –10 C were not effective even when gas levels or exposure durations were increased by 50%.