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Friday, May 18, 2012

February : Report on field trip to Sirex-infested areas in Mpumulanga

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3 February, 2012

Report on field trip to Sirex-infested areas in Mpumulanga

Together with Philip Croft (National Sirex Coordinator) and Denzil Lawrie (contractor involved in Sirex operations) we visited pine plantations in the Elandshoogte and Carolina area. Sirex-infested trees in these areas are showing symptoms of attack much earlier than previously observed, with the foliage of many infested trees already brown. This can potentially impact the success of the nematode inoculations in those areas, as low moisture content of the wood (from the tree dying) is known to decrease inoculation success. These issues will be taken up by the National Sirex Committee and reasons for these changes as well as strategies to ensure high inoculation success will be explored.


Brett Hurley and Hardus Hatting


Brett Hurley (PhD)
Entomology Researcher and Lecturer
Department of Zoology and Entomology
Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP)
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
University of Pretoria