A Hawai'i-based scientist says strict quarantine procedures have stopped the spread of a disease that kills the state's native 'ōhiʻa trees.
The fungal disease known as Rapid 'ōhiʻa Death has affected around 74-thousand acres of 'ōhi'a forests in the last decade.
It can kill a tree in a matter of days.
There are fears the disease could spread to similar trees in the Pacific, but an expert working on the problem Lisa Keith told Tim Glasgow there's no evidence it has spread beyond the island of Hawai'i.
Staining typical of the disease rapid ōhi'a death.
Photo: Supplied / JB Friday
Transcript
LISA KEITH: Well right now Rapid 'ōhiʻa Death is on on Hawai'i Island. Even though the fungus has been here for probably one-two decades killing trees we have not found it on any other island. The Hawaiian Department of Agriculture was actually very proactive in getting an inter-island quarantine in place. So any material, any 'ōhiʻa wood or plant part would need to be treated to kill the fungus or actually tested before it was transferred off island.
TIM GLASGOW: I read that is had potentially been found on Tahiti.
LK: No, so that is not confirmed. I guess even with ōhiʻa here trees die for a number of reasons. And what is really tricky about the disease is just like drought or potentially other pathogens the symptoms aren't definitive for Rapid 'ōhiʻa Death. So even on our island or our state there are areas of mortality that we can't find Ceratocystis fimbriata - the agent for Rapid 'ōhiʻa Death. And I have seen pictures of some trees on Tahiti and it's really difficult to say when you're really looking at dead trees - it doesn't contain any contain any leaves. You'd really have to get a good samples and a look inside the tree to see what's going on. You know I haven't heard of any of these visually rapid symptoms of death occurring anywhere else with native metrosideros, besides Hawai'i Island.
TG: Obviously the quarantine work is a way you're halting its spread from Hawaii, do you feel like you're making progress?
LK: Yes, absolutely. While there are areas where there is high mortality, but decimated - I would not say that. There are areas where there are a lot of dead trees present. You know even in a plot size where, say 90-95 percent of the mortality exists there are still survivors. So with the genetic diversity of ohi'a, I think it's playing a positive role here. It's not a totally bleak picture.
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