Other Generalized Diseases

Many diseases have already impacted our southern forests and much research has been done to try to answer questions associated with their outbreaks.  There are some other generalized diseases that are not widely known but may pose serious concerns in the future, especially to the silviculture industry. 

Fiber farms and monocultures have presented a relatively new pathway for disease outbreaks to occur.  Though little research as been conducted on much of the following hardwood plantation diseases, there are several worth introducing, including those affecting American sycamores. Root and butt rots are the most serious cause of lumber cull and degrade in southern forests. All southern hardwood species are affected, and the loss in terms of hardwood timber volume amounts to millions of board feet annually. Of all the pests that reduce hardwood lumber production, none are more important than the wood decay fungi and the hardwood borers.

A sample of hardwood plantation diseases, root and butt rots, and wood decay fungi are provided on the pages that follow.