Oak Wilt Management

Biology, Diagnosis, and Management of Oak Wilt Oak Wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the U.S., killing millions of trees in at least 76 northern, central, and western Texas counties. It is an infectious fungal disease that spreads easiest between February and June thus leading some to say, “Between February and June, do not prune (oak trees).” Dr. Appel will discuss identification of Oak Wilt and how it is transmitted as well as prevention and management strategies. He also will compare Oak Wilt to some other common tree diseases in Central Texas. About the Speaker: Dr. David Appel is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology (PLPM) at Texas A&M University in College Station. He has spent the last 40 years at A&M conducting research and outreach on diseases of forest and shade trees while teaching numerous graduate and undergraduate courses on plant pathology, forest protection, and environmental sciences. He has participated in over 1,000 workshops, Master Gardener trainings, and county programs to extend his research knowledge to the public, arborists, landscape specialists and Texas wine grape growers. In recognition of his contributions to plant pathology, the Southern Division of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) presented him with its Outstanding Plant Pathologist award in 2021.