[APWG] Fwd: [MPWG] Bipolaris in WV

[ForestRuss at aol.com]

____________________________________
 From: ForestRuss at aol.com
To: MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
Sent:  5/16/2011 11:01:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: [MPWG] Bipolaris in  WV


MPWG:
 
The Bipolaris fungus has again appeared in central WV.
 
The first Microstegium plants started to germinate in mid April and  within 
two weeks seedlings were starting to sport  Bipolaris lesions.  In many 
locations the lower blades of the  stiltgrass plants had already died and in a 
few areas the plants appeared to  die almost as soon as they germinated.  
The photo below was taken in an  area that is at the leading edge of a SG 
invasion....hopefully the end of a SG  invasion.

 
 
 
 

In some areas nearly every individual stiltgrass plant was showing signs  
of infection by Bipolaris within two weeks of gernination. 
 
 
 
By mid May the infection has spread throughout this  population.   In many 
areas the stiltgrass is becoming non  competitive as the foliage dies back 
and the surrounding native vegetation  overtakes and dominates the ground 
cover.

 

 
 
The "persistent" thatch produced by stiltgrass that lives through its'  
full life cycle appears to rot very quickly in the face of a Bipolaris  
infection.  There are some areas where Bipolaris has been active for  several years 
and neither thatch or healthy Mv seedlings are present.
 


 
 
For people wishing to see Bipolaris in action, we will be hosting a  
program at Crummies Creek Demonstration Forest in cooperation with the West  
Virginia University Extension, the Woodland Owners Association of  WV and the 
National Woodland Owners Association on Saturday June  25 and some of the 
session will involve visits to areas where Bipolaris  has been active for several 
years as well as areas subjected to annual  mechanical control for over ten 
years.  
 
Special permits to move Bipolaris infected plants to other parts of  West 
Virginia are available through the WV Department of Agriculture.   
Intentional movement of diseased plants from WV is possible as long as a  permit is 
obtained from APHIS.  
 
However, Bipolaris, which appears to be native to the central  Appalachians 
showed up in Maryland and Virginia last year and the wet spring  of 2011 
has not hampered the spread of the fungus so it should be expected in  more 
locations this summer.
 
Look for additional updates as the growing season progresses.
 
Sincerely,
 
Russ Richardson, Certified Forester
PO Box 207
Arnoldsburg, WV  25234



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