Dogwood Anthracnose Controlled by Fire

Dogwoods throughout the eastern United States have died from a disease called Discula destructive sp. nov., otherwise known as dogwood anthracnose. A recent study in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park indicates that between 70 percent and 94 percent of Park dogwoods have died from the disease since first found in the late 1980s.
The good news is that, within three Park burn spots, dogwood populations have increased by nearly 200 percent. Experts say that just three burns can't give hard and fast scientific information but presents some hope for land managers that prescribed fire just may protect dogwood. More study is needed.
"Fire basically opens up the forest and dries it out, and there may also be a short term impact of fire killing the fungus," says Park Ecologist Mark Jenkins.
Dogwood anthracnose has killed more than 90 percent of dogwoods in some eastern hardwood stands and it threatens the species from Maine to Central Georgia, and from British Columbia to Washington and Oregon.
Dogwood Anthracnose