Operational disease screening program for resistance to wilt in Acacia koa in Hawaii

Abstract

In Hawaii, koa (Acacia koa A. Gray) is a valuable tree species economically, ecologically, and culturally. With significant land use change and declines in sugarcane, pineapple, and cattle production, there is an opportunity and keen interest in utilizing native koa in reforestation and restoration efforts. However, moderate to high mortality rates in many of the low to moderate elevation plantings have impeded past efforts (fig. 1). The primary cause for this mortality, particularly in young plantings, is thought to be koa wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. koae (FOXY) (Gardner 1980). Fusarium oxysporum is a relatively common agricultural and nursery fungus, but the origin of strains of FOXY virulent to koa in Hawaii is unknown.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the fourth international workshop on the genetics of host-parasite interactions in forestry: Disease and insect resistance in forest trees

Citation

Dudley, Nick; James, Robert; Sniezko, Richard; Cannon, Phil; Yeh, Aileen; Jones, Tyler; Kaufmann, Michael. 2012. Operational disease screening program for resistance to wilt in Acacia koa in Hawaii. In: Sniezko, Richard A.; Yanchuk, Alvin D.; Kliejunas, John T.; Palmieri, Katharine M.; Alexander, Janice M.; Frankel, Susan J., tech. coords. Proceedings of the fourth international workshop on the genetics of host-parasite interactions in forestry: Disease and insect resistance in forest trees. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-240. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. pp. 286-289.