Butternut Canker

Butternut canker is a fungal disease that has caused massive amounts of butternut mortality.  The origin of the disease is unclear but known history begins in 1967 in Wisconsin.  The disease quickly spread into the southern Appalachians where most (up to 90% is some areas) of the butternuts were killed (biology).  This disease is spread by air, rain splashes, and insects.  Once infected, a tree produces oozing cankers that can girdle and kill the tree.  Butternut was never an abundant tree in the forest, so the disease went unnoticed in areas for a long time.  Management options are few but promotion of seemingly genetically resistant trees provides hope of maintaining butternuts as part of the ecosystem.

• History
• Biology
• Management and Research