There are about 1,000 chestnut trees in the city that could be affected by a bacterial disease
The municipality of Groningen has started a special approach treat a disease that has affected more than a thousand chestnut trees. The treatment consists of heating the tree to kill the causative agent of the disease – bacteria. The first results are positive, writes the GIC.
The municipality of Groningen manages a total of 1,682 chestnuts. About sixty percent of these could be affected by the chestnut disease. The municipality is investigating whether heat could be used to kill the bacteria in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
The trunk of the tree is wrapped in an insulation blanket and heated at 40 degrees Celsius for 48 hours, according to the municipality of Groningen.
Chestnut trees on the Emmaplein and the Praediniussingel have been treated in this way. The method seems to work with chestnuts that are not yet very sick and are in a reasonable condition.
To study the long-term effects, another 20 chestnut trees will be treated at the end of this year.
Images via the GIC
