London Plane tree pathogens and honey

An introductory note to accompany the first post of blog for aspiring rural estate managers and associated employment. This blog is for information and interest only and I cannot be held responsible for the content or lack of content on the site or if the information has been removed.

Plane trees (Platanus spa.) are commonly found in towns and cities due to their tolerance of water shortage and their ability for their bark to absorb particulate pollutants and shed the bark. An advisory note (No. 7, 2008) "Problems on Plane Trees" from the Research Agency of the Forestry Commission explains that studies in Germany found an ascomycete fungus Splanchnonema platani (anamorph: Macrodiplodiopsis desmazieresii) which causes the dieback of the London plane (Platanus x hispanica.

This has been expanded upon by an article in the Independent (11/10/2010) by Cahal Milmo describes the new disease, see above, that is also named Massaria which is infecting plane trees. It is a fast spreading pathogen that infects the v-shaped section of each branch and it can strip the bark from larger branches. It can affect the canopy shape and the fact that the disease can kill individual branches, as well as trees with branches of up to 20 centimetres in diameter, and this does pose a threat and risk to public safety.

The aforementioned Pathology Advisory Note lists three other pathogens that affect plane trees, these include:

Ceratscystis fimbriata f. platani is a wilting pathogen that strains the xylem, induces severe wilting and eventually tree mortality.

Phellinus punctuates causes cankers on the bark before developing intense white rot in both sap and heartwood.

Inonotus hispidus, is a basidiomycete that creates rusty brown fruit bodies blackish, long, narrow cankers.

All these pathogens have health and safety implications and with the potential changes in climate and the increase in imported tree stock could lead to an increase of these pathogens.

More information from the Research Agency of the Forestry Commission can be obtained from here.

Honey can be used as an antibacterial substance that can be applied to skin wounds, this site explains in greater detail how this is done.
" Subrahmanyam (1991) suggests that honey is effective for treatment of burn wounds because: 1) It prevents infection because of its antibacterial or bacteriostatic properties (i.e., inhibits the growth of both Gram- negative and Gram-positive bacteria). 2) It provides a viscous barrier to fluid loss and wound invasion by bacteria thus preventing infection. 3) It contains enzymes which may aid the healing process by promoting tissue formation. 4) It absorbs edema fluid (pus) thereby cleaning the wound. 5) It reduces pain and irritation and eliminates offensive smell."