Scientists Find Cause of Raybay Tree Wilt

U.S. scientists say they’re concerned about the spread of a fungus that’s causing the wilt of redbay trees across the southeastern United States.

Researchers from the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station, Iowa State University and the Florida Division of Forestry have provided the first description of the fungus that has spread among redbay trees along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Forest service plant pathologist Stephen Fraedrich and colleagues identified the redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus as carrying the fungus from the genus Raffaelea to feed their larvae.

The researchers said southeastern coastal residents and visitors are disturbed by the massive redbay mortality. Deer browse on the evergreen foliage of the tree, and the fruit is eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, and other animals. Redbay is also the primary host for the larvae of the palamedes swallowtail butterfly.

The fungus has also been associated with the death of other trees in the laurel family, as well as spicebush and avocado.

The researchers fear the spread of the wilt forests across the United States and other areas of the Americas.

The study’s findings appeared in the February issue of the journal Plant Disease.