CATS Arborist Albuquerque Tree Health & Disease Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which fungal disease commonly causes white powdery coatings on leaves of oaks and other trees in the Albuquerque area?
- Verticillium wilt
- Powdery mildew (Correct answer)
- Cytospora canker
- Anthracnose
Correct answer: Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that produces white, powdery spore masses on leaf surfaces and is common on oaks and many other trees in arid climates.
Question 2: A tree in Albuquerque shows yellowing leaves with green veins. Which condition is most likely causing this symptom?
- Nitrogen deficiency
- Iron chlorosis (Correct answer)
- Overwatering
- Root rot
Correct answer: Iron chlorosis
Iron chlorosis causes interveinal yellowing (yellow leaves with green veins) and is common in Albuquerque due to the alkaline, calcareous soils that limit iron availability.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of conducting a crown density assessment in tree health evaluation?
- To measure trunk diameter at breast height
- To estimate the percentage of live crown relative to total tree height (Correct answer)
- To assess root plate stability
- To determine irrigation scheduling
Correct answer: To estimate the percentage of live crown relative to total tree height
Crown density assessment evaluates the proportion of live, functional crown relative to total height, which reflects photosynthetic capacity and overall tree vigor.
Question 4: Which bark beetle species is a significant threat to piñon pines in the Albuquerque region?
- Emerald ash borer
- Piñon ips beetle (Ips confusus) (Correct answer)
- Mountain pine beetle
- Asian longhorned beetle
Correct answer: Piñon ips beetle (Ips confusus)
The piñon ips beetle (Ips confusus) attacks drought-stressed piñon pines and has caused widespread mortality in the Albuquerque area, especially during drought years.
Question 5: When treating a tree with a systemic insecticide via soil injection, which factor most influences uptake speed?
- Wind speed at the time of application
- Soil moisture level and tree transpiration rate (Correct answer)
- The brand of insecticide used
- Time of year the tree was planted
Correct answer: Soil moisture level and tree transpiration rate
Systemic insecticide uptake through soil injection depends heavily on soil moisture and active tree transpiration, as water movement through the xylem carries the chemical upward.
Question 6: What does the term 'girdling root' mean in arboricultural practice?
- A root that grows downward into bedrock
- A root that circles the trunk and compresses the vascular tissue (Correct answer)
- A root that grows into a sewer line
- A root that produces aerial sprouts
Correct answer: A root that circles the trunk and compresses the vascular tissue
A girdling root encircles or crosses the trunk or main root, restricting vascular flow and eventually causing decline or death if not corrected.
Question 7: In Albuquerque's desert climate, which irrigation practice best supports deep root development in established trees?
- Daily shallow watering near the trunk
- Infrequent deep watering at the drip line and beyond (Correct answer)
- Overhead sprinkler irrigation twice daily
- Misting the canopy to reduce heat stress
Correct answer: Infrequent deep watering at the drip line and beyond
Infrequent, deep watering applied at and beyond the drip line encourages roots to grow deeply and outward, improving drought resilience in arid climates.
CATS Arborist Albuquerque Tree Health & Disease Management 2
Which fungal disease commonly causes white powdery coatings on leaves of oaks and other trees in the Albuquerque area?