[MPWG] Bipolaris in WV

[ForestRuss at aol.com]

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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