Deadly wilt disease causes death of 100 hectares of acacia, what do forestry experts say?

Prolonged hot and dry weather has raised concerns about the risk of wilting in acacia trees and the death of acacia plantations, as noted by Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Forestry in Vietnam. The risk of acacia tree wilt disease, caused by Ceratocystis spp., is particularly high in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, but Vietnam has so far managed to prevent large-scale outbreaks. However, the disease has affected some plantations in Vietnam, leading to the death of over 90 ha of acacia trees. To mitigate this risk, the emphasis is on sustainable forestry practices, including mixed planting and the use of disease-resistant varieties. Since 2017, the General Department of Forestry has been involved in researching the disease and will issue an integrated prevention process in the third quarter of 2020. Other preventive measures, such as seed selection, soil treatment, and crop rotation, are also being promoted to limit the disease risk.