ARC tackles new Kauri tree disease

Press Release: Auckland Regional Council ARC tackles new Kauri tree disease The Auckland Regional Council is tackling a newly identified disease attacking kauri trees in the Waitakere Ranges. The disease is a kauri collar rot, caused by a soil pathogen known as Phytophthora Taxon Agathis (PTA). It causes a progressive collar rot that can girdle the tree and eventually kill it. Affected trees show yellowing leaves, canopy thinning and dead branches and they can develop lesions that bleed resin across the lower part of the trunk. Diseased kauri trees were first discovered along the Maungaroa Ridge near Piha in 2006, but it was not known what was causing the symptoms. Extensive research has been done since and it was confirmed in April this year as a kauri collar rot caused by PTA. Until then it had not been identified as a new... [read full story]