USDA Researchers Using Fungus to Attack Sudden Oak Death Pathogen

Researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are using a fungus to fight the pathogen that causes sudden oak death in trees in Oregon and California.

Timothy Widmer said they have started looking at using a fungus to fight SOD.

“This particular species recently had a lot of interest in using as a biological control agent. It seems to be effective against different types of pathogens.”

The fungus is called Trichoderma asperellum and is a common soil fungi.

How does it work? Widmer said it’s in the biology.

“This particular one happens to be what we call a micro-parasite so it actually will attack the spore of the pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death and kill it. That’s one reason why it’s so effective in its methods to kill the spore and persistent spores in the soil.”

The work is being done to prevent spread of the disease which has killed more than 1 million trees in California.