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Sudden Oak Death (SOD), is an exotic introduced disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of native oak and tanoak trees in California. Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of SOD, is a microscopic organism that is spread during periods of relatively warm, rainy weather; late spring in northern California. Click on the links below for more information:
SOD Blitz survey training page
Updated Recommendations for SOD Management and Treatment
Sudden Oak Death – SOD – Symptoms Guide
Training Page
What is SOD Blitz?
SOD BLITZ Survey Project:
Communities Coming Together in the Fight Against Sudden Oak Death
What is SOD Blitz?
SOD BLITZ Survey Project:
Communities Coming Together in the Fight Against Sudden Oak Death
Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a serious exotic disease, is threatening the survival of tanoak and several oak species in coastal forests of California, between Del Norte and Monterey County. The disease spreads during wet years on leaves of California bay laurels and tanoaks. The presence of SOD symptomatic bay leaves generally precedes oak infections. Some management options are available (sanitation, chemical preventative treatments, bay removal), but they are effective only if implemented before oaks and tanoaks are infected. Hence, timely detection of the disease on bay laurel leaves is key. SOD blitzes inform and educate the community about SOD, get local citizen scientists involved in detecting the disease on bay laurel and tanoak leaves, and produce detailed local maps of disease distribution. Additionally, the samples collected during the SOD blitzes allow for a broad genetic screening to detect a new and more aggressive form of the disease (NA2) which has been introduced recently and should be curtailed. Given the amount of rainfall in 2024, SOD is expected to be spreading and may have arrived at a site near you. If you want to be part of the solution; 1- join our webinar where we will discuss the results of the 2025 SOD blitzes, including ongoing increased risk for oak infection in 2024-2026 and the significant spread of the newly-introduced and possibly more aggressive SOD pathogen (aka NA2); 2- become a volunteer at one of the 2026 SOD Blitzes. Link to the webinar to learn about the current state of SOD will be shared soon, but it is scheduled for November 10th at 6.30 pm. Questions will be answered by the speakers, including Dr. Matteo Garbelotto and by the organizers.
Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a serious exotic disease, is threatening the survival of tanoak and several oak species in coastal forests of California, between Del Norte and Monterey County. The disease spreads during wet years on leaves of California bay laurels and tanoaks. The presence of SOD symptomatic bay leaves generally precedes oak infections. Some management options are available (sanitation, chemical preventative treatments, bay removal), but they are effective only if implemented before oaks and tanoaks are infected. Hence, timely detection of the disease on bay laurel leaves is key. SOD blitzes inform and educate the community about SOD, get local citizen scientists involved in detecting the disease on bay laurel and tanoak leaves, and produce detailed local maps of disease distribution. Additionally, the samples collected during the SOD blitzes allow for a broad genetic screening to detect a new and more aggressive form of the disease (NA2) which has been introduced recently and should be curtailed. Given the amount of rainfall in 2024, SOD is expected to be spreading and may have arrived at a site near you. If you want to be part of the solution; 1- join our webinar where we will discuss the results of the 2025 SOD blitzes, including ongoing increased risk for oak infection in 2024-2026 and the significant spread of the newly-introduced and possibly more aggressive SOD pathogen (aka NA2); 2- become a volunteer at one of the 2026 SOD Blitzes. Link to the webinar to learn about the current state of SOD will be shared soon, but it is scheduled for November 10th at 6.30 pm. Questions will be answered by the speakers, including Dr. Matteo Garbelotto and by the organizers.
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