Irreversible Fungal Canker Disease Threatens Istanbul’s Centuries-Old Plane Trees
Environmental scientists and municipal forestry teams in Istanbul are working to address the spread of Ceratocystis platani, a fatal fungal pathogen causing plane tree canker across the city's historic avenues and palace gardens. The disease causes severe structural decay, leading to the drying up and death of centuries-old sycamore trees.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has conducted sanitation cuttings of dead specimens, particularly near historic sites such as Dolmabahçe Palace, to mitigate pedestrian safety hazards and suppress fungal spore dispersal. Experts note that because the pathogen persists in surrounding soil and root systems, urban replanting strategies face ongoing ecological challenges.
Source Link: Bianet News Article
