Aerial Survey for Oak Wilt Incidence at Three Locations in Central Texas

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Abstract
Color-IR aerial photography was used to survey oak mortality and identify oak wilt centers in central Texas. The highest incidence of oak wilt was found in the 38,850-ha Kerrville-Bandera site, where 1007 mortality centers comprising 3749.6 ha of dying or dead oaks were delineated. A random sample of these centers indicated 86% could be attributed to Ceratocystis fagacearum. In the 58,559-ha Austin site, 109 mortality centers were found. Of 16 randomly selected centers visited, 6 in the Austin site were caused by oak wilt. Oak wilt was not found in the 38,870-ha Fredericksburg-Johnson City site. Species affected by oak wilt in central Texas include Quercus virginiana, Q. fusiformis, Q. texana, Q. marilandica, Q. stellata, Q. sinuata var. breviloba and Q. glaucoides. Bole sampling for isolation of C. fagacearum was consistently more successful than branch sampling. Veinal necrosis and tipburn were the symptoms most reliable for diagnosis of oak wilt on live oaks.

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