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Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) Infection In Trees

Reference Type
University Outreach Publication

Every Winter people notice mistletoe. Whether in holiday greenery or in deciduous trees, mistletoe is a visible symbol of tree damage. Mistletoe negatively impacts both tree health and structure. Mistletoe is a parasite which initiates branch decline and loss, wood decay and discoloration, animal and pathogenic entry points into the tree, and oxygenation and drying of wood. Mistletoe commandeers resources from the tree. Early intervention is critical to maintaining tree health and structural integrity.



Mistletoe has a long history of being noticed and celebrated by humans. Spiritual blessings and curses were centered around mistletoe. Some forms of mistletoe, especially when infecting a particular individual tree or a species of tree, were important in naturalistic religions or rites. The term "mistletoe" has a much less exotic and revered background. Because mistletoe was thought to be propagated by bird droppings, the term mistletoe was derived from Anglo-Saxon for "a twig with bird droppings," or distantly derived from "a different kind of twig." Kissing under this parasite has many meanings.



[FOR03-007]

Authors
K.D. Coder
Date Published
2003
Publisher
Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia
Publisher Location
Athens, GA (US)
Pages
4
Publication Number
FOR03-077
Sub-Topics
Community Forestry, Diagnosis and Treatment, Disease, Forest Health, Health (tree), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Plant Health Care, Protection (tree), Structure (tree), Stress & Stressors
State(s)/Region(s)
Eastern, Piedmont, Southeast, North America, Southern-USDA FS
Keywords
Mistletoe, Phoradendron
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