Resources / Forestry / Leaf disease defoliation
Forestry · Health & risk · Disease

Leaf disease defoliation

12% crown loss

The share of live crown lost to fungal leaf blight, which hits blue gum hardest in its juvenile foliage during the wet establishment years before the canopy transitions to more resistant adult leaves.

Worked example · % crown defoliation by age
Action >20% 22 17 13 12 yr 2 yr 4 yr 6 yr 8
% crown defoliation by age
The benchmark

Mycosphaerella and Teratosphaeria leaf blights routinely strip 10–30% of juvenile blue gum crowns in wetter years; sustained heavy defoliation can cut rotation volume materially.

DPIRD WA ↗
What it signals

Because photosynthesis lives in the crown, defoliation translates almost directly into lost height and volume. Tracking it through the susceptible early years tells you whether a genetic or chemical intervention is warranted before growth is permanently pegged back.

Data required to calculate
Crown defoliation score by plot%Stand ageyr

Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses, and keeps the figure current automatically.

How to improve it
01

Plant families selected for leaf-blight tolerance on high-risk sites.

02

Favour wider spacing and airflow to shorten leaf-wetness periods.

03

Monitor juvenile crowns through wet springs to time any response.

Questions & answers

What is leaf disease defoliation?

The share of live crown lost to fungal leaf blight, which hits blue gum hardest in its juvenile foliage during the wet establishment years before the canopy transitions to more resistant adult leaves.

What data do you need to calculate leaf disease defoliation?

You need: Crown defoliation score by plot (%), Stand age (yr). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good leaf disease defoliation benchmark?

Mycosphaerella and Teratosphaeria leaf blights routinely strip 10–30% of juvenile blue gum crowns in wetter years; sustained heavy defoliation can cut rotation volume materially.

How do you improve leaf disease defoliation?

Plant families selected for leaf-blight tolerance on high-risk sites. Favour wider spacing and airflow to shorten leaf-wetness periods. Monitor juvenile crowns through wet springs to time any response.

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