Meeting was held August 9 - 13, 2003, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forest Pathology Field Trip
6:30 a.m. Friday, August 8 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9

Buses depart at 6:30 a.m. Friday, August 8, and travel north through the Piedmont and foothills of North Carolina and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to the Meadowview Research Farms, home to the American Chestnut Foundation's chestnut blight resistance breeding program. Stops along the way could include littleleaf disease in southern pines with associated bark beetle infestations; hemlock wooly adelgid mortality near the Blue Ridge Parkway; Phytophthora root disease in Fraser fir Christmas tree plantations; and rhododendron nursery and field sites surveyed in the spring of 2003 for the sudden oak death pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. In keeping with the theme of the Oak Disease Threats Worldwide Symposium co-sponsored by the APS Forest Pathology Committee later in the week, stops at an oak flooring manufacturing plant and an oak decline in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area will be included. The first day will end in Asheville, NC, after a catered dinner served at the North Carolina Arboretum. On Saturday, participants will tour operations of the USFS Resistance Screening Center at Bent Creek and view tests evaluating genetic resistance to fusiform rust and pitch canker, as well as seed fungi screening. Southern Appalachian hardwood silviculture will be discussed with research scientists at Bent Creek Research and Demonstration Forest, and air quality effects on forest health will be addressed on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lunch will be provided at the Cradle of Forestry in America on the Pisgah Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest, before returning to the conference hotels by 5:00 p.m. Boxed lunches will be served on both Friday and Saturday. Attendance is limited to 45 people. Participants are required to make their own room reservations for Friday night. A block of rooms has been reserved at a special rate of $89.00 plus state and local taxes (presently 11%; total cost = $98.79) for Friday night at the Courtyard by Marriott in Asheville, NC. Call +1.828.281.0041 and identify yourself as a participant of the "APS Forest Pathology Field Trip" to get the special rate. Tickets are $125.

A two-day forest pathology field trip in advance of the meeting has been proposed. Steve Oak will be the organizer. Possible subjects/locations include: the USFS screening center, oak health, the Cradle of Forestry, air quality issues, the American Chestnut Foundation farm at Meadowview, Mt. Rodgers, hemlock, frasier fir Christmas trees, northern hardwood cover types, the Piedmont region and littleleaf disease, etc.

Oak Disease Threats Worldwide
Sponsoring Committee: Forest Pathology
Co-Sponsoring Committees: Mycology, Diagnostics
Organizers: Jennifer Juzwik, USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, MN, and David Appel, Texas A&M University, College Station

The genus Quercus encompasses over 600 known species of oaks distributed in temperate and tropical regions throughout the world. The oaks contribute innumerable benefits to societies and play important roles in the healthy functioning of global forest ecosystems. Oaks have historically been considered relatively free of the catastrophic types of diseases that have plagued other important tree genera such as elms and chestnuts. However, the list of threatening diseases and reports of significant impact appear to be growing. Such reports include instances of local and regional episodes of oak mortality, outbreaks of new pathogens, the expansion of known pathogens into new areas, and pathogen interactions with other biotic and abiotic factors. With the globalization of political, economic, and social activities comes the potential for these new diseases to spread into regions with potentially disastrous results. The intense interest developing around the issues of invasive species and threats to biodiversity, as well as concern over recent intensification of oak mortality has stimulated the Forest Pathology Committee to organize this symposium. Domestic and international forest pathologists have been invited to describe and explain the occurrence of several new epidemics of oaks that are causing great concern in their respective areas. Also, updates will be given on the status of some extremely virulent, well-known oak pathogens. It is the intent of this session to alert natural resource managers and plant pathologists of major current threats to this extremely valuable species group and the steps needed to minimize their impact.

Introduction/synthesis. J. JUZWIK. USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, MN The world's oak-dominated ecosystems. R. ROGERS. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Phytophthora diseases of oaks. E. HANSEN. Oregon State University, Corvallis Oak wilt in the U.S.A. (Ceratocystis fagacearum). D. APPEL. Texas A&M University, College Station

Massive mortality of oaks in Japan. S. ITO. Mie University, Mie, Japan Oak decline in the eastern USA. S. OAK. USDA Forest Service, Asheville, NC European oak decline. T. OSZAKO. Forest Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

World Trade in Wood - A Pathway for Movement of Exotic Pathogens
Sponsoring Committee: Forest Pathology
Co-Sponsoring Committees: Regulatory Plant Pathology, Diseases of Ornamental Plants
Organizers: Susan Cohen, USDA APHIS, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, and Jeff Morrell, Oregon State University, Corvallis

This symposium will address the potential for introduction of new exotic plant pathogens associated with the international movement of wood products as well as the international standards governing the handling of wood products and possible mitigation measures to prevent new introductions.*

Detection, identification, and genetics of exotic fungal pathogens. J. WEBBER. Forestry Commission, Farnham, Surrey, UK

Pathways of Movement of Wood. H. BURDSALL. Fungal and Decay Diagnostics LLC, Black Earth, WI

Mitigation Measures for Limiting Invasive Pest Movement. J. MORRELL. Oregon State University, Corvallis

International Harmonization of Phytosanitary Measures for Wood Products. R. GRIFFIN. IPPC, FAO, Rome, Italy

A Regulatory Perspective on Wood as a Potential Pathway for Movement of Exotic Pathogens. S. COHEN. USDA APHIS, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

*Disclaimer: These presentations are not refereed and represent the views of the presenters at the time of the symposium. Each presenter has given written permission to have their presentation shared on this website. The APS Forest Pathology Committee is not responsible for accuracy or use of presentation contents.


Understanding Population Genetics and Its Implications in Plant Disease Epidemiology
Sponsoring Committee: Epidemiology
Co-Sponsoring Committee: Forest Pathology
Organizers: Sarah Pethybridge, University of Tasmania, Burnie, TAS, Australia, and Nik Grunwald, USDA ARS, Prosser, WA

This symposium will illustrate how detailed knowledge about population genetics using molecular tools can enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of pathosystems. This session will feature illustrations from both agricultural and forestry scenarios.

Monitoring the spread and continuing evolution of Dutch elm disease pathogens through ecological and population genetics. C.M. BRASIER. Forestry Research Branch, Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom

Exploring the relationship between alleles and epidemics: The case of potato late blight. N. GRUNWALD. USDA ARS, Prosser, WA

Integrating molecular and phenotypic analyses of plant pathogen populations. C. MUNDT, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Molecular markers: An essential part of the epidemiologist's toolkit? T. PEEVER. Washington State University, Pullman