Massaria

[Tom Joye]

I'm not convinced Massaria is a major issue. First of all, it is not a new 'disease', it has always been around and (as many ascomycetes) it plays a role in shedding branches that are no longer functional, for example because they do not receive enough light. One may not be able to see Massaria from the ground, it is perfectly possible to identify branches with a high risk for infection and monitor these. A second point is that the branches don't snap and fall down. They tend to break on the top side of the branch and then usually swing down and remain hanging. A whole different story from the 'hazard' point of view.

I get the feeling a lot of the Massaria fuzz has been started by people providing tree monitoring services and specialised equipment (such as high altitude cameras).

[David Humphries]

I'm not convinced Massaria is a major issue. First of all, it is not a new 'disease', it has always been around and (as many ascomycetes) it plays a role in shedding branches that are no longer functional, for example because they do not receive enough light. One may not be able to see Massaria from the ground, it is perfectly possible to identify branches with a high risk for infection and monitor these. A second point is that the branches don't snap and fall down. They tend to break on the top side of the branch and then usually swing down and remain hanging. A whole different story from the 'hazard' point of view.

I get the feeling a lot of the Massaria fuzz has been started by people providing tree monitoring services and specialised equipment (such as high altitude cameras).

 

Interesting view point Tom,

 

I think here in the Royal Parks experience though, there have been a significant number of detached falling limbs. Enough to be concerned about regarding the extremely high visitor numbers they entertain.

7 million annual visits in some of their parks !

 

I can't comment about other sites.

 

 

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[Tom Joye]

Interesting view point Tom,

 

I think here in the Royal Parks experience though, there have been a significant number of detached falling limbs. Enough to be concerned about regarding the extremely high visitor numbers they entertain.

7 million annual visits in some of their parks !

 

I can't comment about other sites.

 

 

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David,

 

I'm certainly not saying that we should just forget about Massaria and in high risk areas such as the Royal Parks it needs to be dealt with. But suggesting that we need to assess every urban plane tree twice a year (as is happening in the Netherlands) ... now that's what I call 'making a fuss' (with ss instead of zz, I just realised )

 

Cheers,

Tom

[David Humphries]

David,

 

I'm certainly not saying that we should just forget about Massaria and in high risk areas such as the Royal Parks it needs to be dealt with. But suggesting that we need to assess every urban plane tree twice a year (as is happening in the Netherlands) ... now that's what I call 'making a fuss' (with ss instead of zz, I just realised )

 

Cheers,

Tom

 

I did wonder about the 'zz'

 

 

I get your stance

 

 

 

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[Fungus]

But suggesting that we need to assess every urban plane tree twice a year (as is happening in the Netherlands) ... now that's what I call 'making a fuss'

 

Tom,

Where in The Netherlands is this happening than (naam en rugnummers a.u.b. ) ?

The photo I started the thread with was taken yesterday underneath a 120 year old Platanus in a (far too) small private garden in the centre of an old city crowded with people visiting restaurants and bars passing and even sitting underneath the tree.

The branches in the photo were hanging from the railings surrounding the garden. Outside the garden, there were a lot of small and a few wrist thick branches laying on the pavement, which was just the weekend's "harvest".

[Riggerbear]

I was at the AA conference and attended the very intresting talk by Mike Turner.

I got the impression that he felt it is a serious problem that is getting worse as time goes on.

One very interesting fact was that he commented that he found it less limbs above hard surfaces such as roads, is this a thing others have found ?

Also up untill recently he had only found Massaria on small-ish limbs that once removed had little change to the overall crown profile but had found it on a limb that had a 750mm diameter which would seriously effect the crown profile.

[Fungus]

he found it less limbs above hard surfaces such as roads, is this a thing others have found ?

 

I would expect this to be the other way around, as the effect of air pollution (exhaust fumes) on the condition of the twigs or branches and the foliage is at its highest level above hard surfaces such as (asphalt) roads with intense traffic.

[sloth]

I would expect this to be the other way around, as the effect of air pollution (exhaust fumes) on the condition of the twigs or branches and the foliage is at its highest level above hard surfaces such as (asphalt) roads with intense traffic.

 

Perhaps the pollution inhibits the massaria?

[Bundle 2]

At the recent TEP seminar, there was comment from a contractor who was basically saying that monitoring was not perhaps enough; this because, by removing affected branches where they pose a significant risk ( liability), it is only months before wood is again presenting the same risk . The result of re-infection/infection at a new site. The point being, it is too quick to stay even a step ahead ?

[Fungus]

Perhaps the pollution inhibits the massaria?

 

Sloth,

No, air pollution does not inhibit, but stimulates pathogens. Acidification and nitrification creates easier access for the spores to invade branches and leaves, that are less protected by the tree's defensive system of which fungicides provided by mycorrhizal symbionts are an essential part.