Signup to receive email updates




or follow our RSS feed

follow our RSS feed

Blog Banner

Rhonda Ferree's ILRiverHort

Rhonda Ferree's Horticulture Blog
IMG 0728
click image to view 2 more

Monday, July 7, 2014

Thousand Cankers Disease Threatens Walnuts

Posted by Rhonda J. Ferree - Pests (Insects, Disease, & Weeds)

Thousand Cankers Disease was recently confirmed in Indiana, putting the disease threateningly close to Illinois walnut trees.

Kelly Estes, Agricultural Pest Survey Coordinator for Illinois Natural History Survey, reported on this discovery in the June 23, 2014 issue of University of Illinois Extension's Home, Yard, & Garden Pest newsletter.

"The Indiana Department of Natural Resource issued a press release on Friday, June 20 announcing the detection of Thousand Cankers Disease in Indiana." Indiana joins Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and eight western states with the disease.

Estes explains that thousand cankers disease is the result of a disease complex in which black walnut trees are attacked by the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis. These beetles vector a fungus, Geosmithia morbida, which infects the tree, causing cankers. As cankers increase, branches begin to die, the canopy begins to thin, ultimately causing the death of the tree.

This discovery was the result of a survey for insect pests and fungi in the state. "What is different about this find is that the fungus was not found on the walnut twig beetle, but on small weevils, Stenomimus pallidus, that emerged from two stressed trees." "This is the first time that fungus has been detected on an insect other than the walnut twig beetle." For the complete press release, please visit the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website.

"At this point in time, there are many more questions than there are answers," says Estes. "Here in Illinois, we also have a statewide survey that is currently being conducted for Thousand Cankers Disease." "We urge residents to keep an eye on their walnuts and if you suspect TCD or have questions about the health of your black walnuts to please contact Kelly Estes at kcook8@illinois.edu or 217-333-1005217-333-1005.

Estes says that a great resource discussing the diagnosis of TCD and its symptoms can be found at http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/diagnosingTCD.pdf.



Please share this article with your friends!
Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Pin on Pinterest