This self-paced course is designed to raise awareness of chestnut blight, strengthen understanding of the disease and its effects on chestnut trees, and provide a foundation for its diagnosis and management.
Study time
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2.5 hours.
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Languages currently available
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Target audience
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The primary audience is forest farmers and others working with chestnuts, as well as forestry professionals, biologists, conservationists, and environmental practitioners.
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Learning objectives
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- describe what chestnut blight is and how it affects chestnut trees;
- outline the global distribution of chestnut blight;
- discuss the ecological, economic and cultural impacts of the disease;
- recognise chestnut blight symptoms and diagnose the presence of the disease in chestnut trees;
- describe the biology of the Cryphonectria parasitica pathogen;
- explain how chestnut blight spreads and the main pathways of transmission;
- explain how biological control of Cryphonectria parasitica works;
- apply biological control techniques to manage chestnut blight;
- identify complementary management practices that can support disease control; and
- monitor and assess the progress and effectiveness of biological control interventions.
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Course structure
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The course consists of three self-paced interactive modules, followed by a multiple-choice assessment.
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Topics covered
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- Introduction to Chestnut Blight
- Biology, symptoms, and hypovirulence
- Management of Chestnut Blight
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