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Damage caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses

Fungi, bacteria and viruses can cause devastating damage. SLU conducts research on the most economically and ecologically important pests in Swedish forests.

Ash tree disease

Observations of ash tree disease in Sweden were first noticed in 2001. This aggressive fungus, Chalara fraxinea, attacks leaves and young shoots from where the fungi grow to form cancer which kills trees.

A deciduous tree with many bare branches. Photo.

Root rot - forestry's scourge

Approximately 15% of Sweden's spruces have root rot when they are felled and the proportion has increased by around 3 percentage points per decade. Now, there are new findings about resistance to root rot that can be used in spruce breeding.

Timber with root rot. Photo.

Diplodia tip blight – a new serious pine disease

Diplodia sapinea is a globally distributed pathogen, causing stem wounds and dead tree crowns on pines. In 2016 a whole Scots pine plantation infected with this pathogen was discovered in for the first time Sweden.

A woman in a pine tree that has many yellow needles. Photo.

Phytophtora in Sweden

Species from the genus Phytophthora are predicted to cause increasing problems related to plant health in the future, also in Sweden.The present status of Phytophthora in Sweden has now been described in a review article by Audrius Menkis and Iryna Matsiakh, analysts at the SLU Forest Damage Centre.

Phytophthora infested beech. Photo.
Forest machine among tree stumps. Photo.

Read more about damage caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses

  • Forest Pathology
    - Research on the economically and ecologically most important pathogenic fungi in Swedish forests from the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
  • SLU Risk assessment of plant pests
    - We perform independent analyses which will provide support to the Swedish Board of Agriculture in their effort to counter the damage of non-indigenous pests such as fungi, bacteria and viruses
  • Biological control of root rot
    - Today, a biological control method is used in which spores of the fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea are sprayed onto felling stumps to prevent the Heterobasidion root rot from spreading.

Do you want to know more?

If you have questions about forest damage caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses, please contact the SLU Forest Damage Center's analysts Iryna Matsiakh and Audrius Menkis!

Published: 10 November 2023 - Page editor: theres.svensson@slu.se
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