Beech leaf disease

rdf:langString Beech leaf disease

rdf:langString Beech leaf disease is a newly discovered lethal disease of beech trees believed to be caused by the nematode Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. The symptoms of the disease appear as a dark green, interveinal banding pattern on the lower canopy foliage, eventually spreading throughout the tree. The symptoms appear to progress through the buds and no new leaves are produced. This eventually results in the death of the tree. The disease has the potential to drastically alter the Eastern deciduous forests of the United States on its own and through potential compounding disease effects. The disease affects the native American beech as well as the commonly planted European beech. The estimated economic and environmental cost of the loss of the beech in Ohio alone is $225 million. The disease has no known cure.