UC Berkeley Forest Pathology Lab will hold a Sudden Oak Death webinar from 11 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 11. The most important aspects of the epidemiology of Sudden Oak Death and how to use the knowledge recently acquired on the biology of the SOD pathogen to maximize the efficacy of preventive measures to control the disease will be discussed.

Timing of landscaping and tree care activities, sanitation strategies, and chemical treatments are all discussed and evaluated. Because SOD is caused by an exotic invasive organism, generic approaches that ensure trees are healthy are not sufficient to manage the disease. Finally, the webinar will discuss how environmental, habitat, and host genetic components may affect the course of the disease and how land managers and property owners can use the disease distribution maps to assess the risk of oak infection.

The speaker will be Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, UCCE specialist in Forest Pathology and Mycology, UC Berkeley. Dr. Garbelotto has conducted much of the research on SOD treatments and will share his findings. For the text of his study on SOD treatments, see: Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, Vol. 33, No. 5 (2007).

There is no charge, however registration is required. Sign up at the following link: http://ucanr.edu/ucbresearch/.

Links for the webinar and login instructions will be provided after registration.