Beech Leaf Disease reported in Cobourg

Image provide from Town of Cobourg

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg has issued notification that last week a tree with Beech Leaf Disease was found on a private property in the town's west end.

At this time, there is no sign that any Town of Cobourg beech trees have been affected, and the town's Urban Forestry Department will be monitoring and assessing trees.

Beech Leaf Disease was first detected in Elgin County in 2017 by the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency. It is caused by an invasive worm-like parasitic nematodes – nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on developing buds in the fall and spring, disrupting normal development. During the summer months, the nematodes feed on leaf tissue between veins

While young trees are highly vulnerable to disease, mature trees can also be severely affected by BLD. BLD does not pose a direct threat to human or animal health, but ecological impacts resulting by increased death of beech trees may disrupt forest-dwelling animals' natural food chain.

Early signs of BLD on infected beech trees may include dark green stripes or bands between lateral leaf veins. More severe symptoms include leaves dropping early, buds not developing, reduced leaf size, thickened or leathery leaves, yellow leaves, and curled or deformed leaves.

If you have any questions, or suspect a tree on your property (or town property) has been infected, please contact the Urban Forestry Department at 905-372-8641 ext. 4369 or trees@cobourg.ca

If you suspect a beech tree on your property has BLD, please do not move beech seedlings, leaf litter or firewood to prevent unintentionally spreading the invasive nematode.