Forest pathology - Mycology

In Forest Pathology the focus is on the prevention, diagnosis and environmentally compatible treatment of tree diseases caused mainly by fungi, but less often also by bacteria or viruses . Climatic and other abiotic damaging factors play a major role here, in that they can promote the harmful emergence of forest pathogens. We analyse the causes of fungal diseases on trees, and develop strategies to prevent them.

Forest pathology has become increasingly important as a result of serious tree diseases such as ash shoot dieback, chestnut blight, sooty bark disease of maple or the current vitality loss of beech. Decay processes not only lead to death or loss of vigour in stands, but also have a negative effect on wood quality and pose a major problem in terms of occupational and road safety.