Red Gums Under Attack
Have you noticed that your red gums (marri or Corymbia calophylla) are looking sick and have large black coloured scars with the bark hanging off? When you walk around Roleystone you will see them along the road.
Marri tree with the canker
The disease is caused by a fungus which attacks the stems. The trees go into decline, the scar spreads and could grow completely around the stem, thereby girdling and finally killing the tree.
Murdoch University scientists have been studying the disease for over 5 years. They eventually identified the pathogen as Quambalaria coyrecup. It is believed to be a native fungus so it is unusual that it is having such a major impact.
Unfortunately there is no cure for this disease but the scientists are continuing to investigate to determine the factors which lead to the disease.
If you are unsure if your tree is a Marri tree then click here to identify it.
A workshop was organised (September 2013) in Roleystone to discuss the worrying trend with marri (Corymbia calophylla) in our area. Roleybushcare invited Professor Giles Hardy and his associate, Dr Trudy Papp to give a presentation to our community. Professor Hardy is the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health at the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University, Western Australia.
Before the workshop, Dr Ian Colquhoun (Chairperson of Roleybushcare) and Pat Hart (Chairperson of SERCUL) took our guests to see the marri trees along Croyden Road. At the workshop we were given a very informative outline of the disease and an explanation on how they were progressing. Many years of work are ahead for the researchers and some "Citizen Science" help will be requested at times. They are preparing an App for mobile phones. The broad community will be able to take a photo of a marri tree and then log some information into a prepared form directly on your mobile phone. This will automatically give the GPS of the tree and then it will be sent to be processed by Murdoch researchers. Watch this space because we will be promoting on our website.
Below: The Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland & Forest Health - Bulletin No. 3 
Links and files about Marri Canker are listed below:
Also click here to view information about the other pathogen attaching our marri trees.This called Quambalaria pitereka. It is a fungal pathogen responsible for leaf and shoot blight known as Quambalaria Shoot Blight (QSB).
