Chestnut Blight
Chestnut blight is a bark inhibiting fungus that infects stems and branches. The fungus is characterised by cankers that grow rapidly. These cankers in most cases continue to develop until the stem or branches are girdled and the tree is entirely colonised and eventually dies.
From a distance, the prominent signs are yellow and brown leaves on one or more branches and eventually dead leafless branches. Typical canker on young, smooth-barked stems are recognised by the yellow-brown to orange surface colour representing the small fruiting structures of the pathogen. Cankers on thick barked trees are inconspicuous until splits and cracks expose the buff-coloured inner bark.
Chestnut blight was detected for the first time in Australia in September 2010 in the Ovens Valley in north-east Victoria.
A national program to eradicate the disease has been implemented and is being led by the Victorian Government.
The eradication program is being overseen by the Chestnut Blight National Management Group (NMG).
Important advice for chestnut growers
NMG Communiqués
Eradication of Chestnut blight supported by the National Management Group - 10 December 2010