Glyphosate treatments for managing successional dynamics in beech bark disease-affected northern hardwood forests.

ABSTRACT: The spread of beech bark disease (BBD) in northern tolerant hardwood forests poses a significant forest management challenge. Extensive aboveground mortality in BBD-affected stands often leads to the rapid formation of high-density American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) thickets, primarily driven by vegetative regeneration through root sprouting. These thickets can outcompete desirable species such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum L.), and negatively impact long-term forest structure and functions. This study evaluated the efficacy of post-harvest herbicide treatments-specifically the application of glyphosate to recently cut stumps and the use of "hack-and-squirt" application techniques on standing beech-to suppress vegetative beech regeneration. Over five years, beech regeneration was si

SUBMITTER: Givelas M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12617849 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature