As was reported in Monday’s SF Chronicle, the results of the 2010 SOD Blitz (Sudden Oak Death) are available on Matteo Garbeletto’s website www.matteolab.org.
The spring SOD Blitz that Atherton participated in was to collect samples of bay trees to be tested for SOD. The theory is that since the bays are the host for SOD, if we can identify the disease early on the bays before the oaks are infected, we have a better chance of protecting our oaks.
Atherton submitted 19 samples of bay leaves for testing. We had 3 positive results, one on Knoll Vista and two on Moulton Drive. These tested DNA positive, but not culture positive, which means SOD is there, but may not be living. The other 16 samples were negative from various locations in town.
Kathy Anderson attended a SOD training workshop on Wednesday at Matteo’s lab in Berkeley. She is working with the Tree Committee and residents on Walsh Road to set up a treatment training workshop. A date will be set in the near future as this is the time to apply the preventative Agrifos treatment. Matteo is out of the counrty so she was not able to confirm a date. The Tree Committee will also hold another SOD Blitz next spring.
