Current status of

Laurel Wilt: A Disease of Avocado

Please find enclosed links to a recent on-line meeting of researchers from forestry and avocado production system perspectives on current laurel wilt research. The goal of the meeting was to briefly share information on current basic and applied research and ideas for controlling or mitigating the laurel wilt pathogen and the ambrosia beetle vectors. Below is the agenda.

 

Laurel Wilt Disease has been on the radar since 2002 when it became apparent that trees related to avocado were dying in the Georgia area.  The Lauraceae family comprises a major portion of the evergreen tree species in the southeast. It's a fungal disease spread by the red bay ambrosia beetle.  Since its introduction, the pest/disease complex has spread throughout the Southeast US, causing significant death and economic loss in forested areas.   Since about 2011, it has been causing significant damage to the avocado groves in the Miami area.  A massive amount of energy has been put into studying the control of the disease, but as yet, there are no clear solutions once a tree is infected. Tree removal is the answer...

Laurel Wilt Disease (LWD) is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola and is transmitted to host trees by the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyloborus glabratus) (RAB). During 2002 this exotic beetle was introduced into Port Wentworth, GA, via infested solid wood packing material. Since then, LWD has spread naturally the RAB vector and humnan movement of infested wood throughout the southeastern U.S. (GA, SC, NC, FL, and MS), eliminating redbay (P. borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris) and other native members of this family. This pest has spread to most counties in Florida and to the commercial avocado-growing area near Miami.

Trees in the Lauracae, including the commercially important avocado (Persea americana...