Not all fungi in the forest are the classic beneficial mycorrhizal mushroom producing organisms we all know and love. Many forest dwelling fungi are in the phylum Ascomycota and they can cause vast amounts of disease to our forest trees and plants. Almost all of these Ascomycotan fungi are virtually impossible to see with the naked eye, yet they cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to our national forests every year. Conversely, these fungal pathogens can provide hope for a better future in some scenarios. They can be used to save the planet and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in specific management plans. Come to this seminar to learn about the dynamic field of plant pathology and how pathogens can devastate a landscape but also be used to manage land and restore forests in North America.
