Proper pruning and tree care are important in most trees, including citrus and avocado. The question of what decay fungus is happening to a tree often comes up and a recent UC publication can help answer that question

Wood Decay and Fungi in Landscape Trees by Downer and Perry

The other question of what to do about the fungus is answered, as well. Check it out.

IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY OF DECAY FUNGI

Many wood decay fungi can be identified by the distinctive shape, color, and texture of the fruiting bodies they form on trees. These fruiting bodies take several forms, depending upon the fungus that produces them, but most of them fit into categories commonly referred to as mushrooms, brackets or conks. They often grow near wounds in bark, including old pruning wounds, at branch scars, in proximity to the root crown, or near surface anchor roots. Some decay fungi, such as Armillaria mellea, produce fleshy mushrooms at the base of infected trees or along their roots, often after rain in fall or winter. All mushrooms and some bracket fungi are annual (i.e., appearing and disappearing seasonally), but many conks are perennial and grow by adding a new spore-bearing layer (hymenium) each year.

Decay fungi are divided into those that attack heartwood (causing heart rots) and those that attack sapwood (causing sap rots and canker rots). Further subdivision is based on the appearance of the decayed wood (i.e., white rots, brown rots, and soft rots) or location in the tree (the decay is called a butt rot if it is at the base of the trunk). Canker rots usually appear on branches or the trunk. When a fruiting body is visible on a tree, it is usually associated with advanced decay; the extent of decay may be far above or below the location of the fruiting body. Trees with extensive sap rot may show symptoms of decline, including increased deadwood and a thinning canopy with reduced density of foliage.

Oaks and Oak Woodlands Explained

“Natural History of the Central Coast Bioregion” (adapted from Gregory Ira's announcement: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=31003) The publication's lead author, Bill Tietje (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley), with co-authors William Preston (Geographer Emeritus, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo) and Anne Polyakov (University of California, Berkeley; currently a Masters Student, University of Washington), created a highly readable and engaging description of the Central Coast Bioregion. “We strived to write in everyday English and create a scientifically accurate and engaging presentation.” The authors succeeded on both counts by use of plain language, common plant and animal names, and short paragraphs supported with over 65 high-quality photographs, four maps, two diagrams, ten vignettes, and 70 references for further reading.

The Central Coast Bioregion, an area between the Pacific Ocean and the San Joaquin Valley, and extending from Monterrey south to Santa Barbara, is home to wildly popular and lesser known destinations. Well known areas include the Big Sur Coast, the estuaries at Elkhorn Slough and Morro Bay, and Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Some of the hidden gems are Pinnacles National Park, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Gardens of the La Purisima Mission. Together, the authors describe the origins and present composition of the region's environments: “Across the region's 15,000 square miles, physical, and biological processes, combined with time and human actions, have resulted in a broad range of ecosystems, each harboring distinct assemblages of plants and animals.” The publication uses engaging vignettes to highlight local conservationists, regional wildlife, historical and contemporary restoration efforts, and interesting places to explore. It begins with a brief history of the region, providing context to descriptions of subsequent environmental and land-use changes, a reminder to readers that while the future of the central coast is uncertain it will be shaped by our actions. You can find the publication at:https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8597.pdf

Sharing Oak Woodland Research through a Popular Website (adapted from Devii Rao, Bill Tietje,Luke Macaulay, and Judi Young) Since its creation in 1995, the University of California Oak Woodland Management website has been a valuable educational resource. Based on Google Analytics data from 2011 to 2017, the website receives an average of 45,000 users annually. It is a repository of nearly 30 years of research and outreach data on the ecology, management, and conservation of California's 8 million acres of oak woodlands.

Recent staff retirements and changes in website standards created a need for an update and redesign. To accomplish this, the University of California Cooperative Extension received a Renewable Resources Extension Act Capacity Grant that allowed us to reformat the website for mobile devices; make the website more functional and visually appealing; add some of the latest research; and promote the website to groups who have not historically used it, in particular, the ranching community.

To increase user friendliness, we developed links at the top of the home page for the three primary target audiences: homeowners, land-use planners, and ranchers. On the home page, we also highlighted five topics that receive the most hits: species identification and ecology; oak regeneration and restoration; economic and ecological values of woodland stands; threats to oak woodlands; and woodland wildlife. The new website, now called UC Oaks, went live in June of 2020.

The new flexible website design will allow us to continuously meet the needs of our clientele. With its new look and expanded reach, we hope that the website will be a one-stop-shop for everything people need to know about oak woodland conservation and management. https://oaks.cnr.berkeley.edu/