FEARS LESSEN THAT INVASIVE FUNGI

WILL COMPLETLY WIPE OUT HAWAII’s

ICONIC NATIVE TREE

AGHITS LAILY N
ALIEF SELLA F. N. N
ALYANA MAHDAVIKIA R.Y
NUR SULISTYOWATI
WAHYU NENGSIH
Ōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the
most abundant native tree in the
Hawaiʻi state, Ōhiʻa has red flowers and
is a formidable plant when lava flows.
Four years ago, an invasive fungus began to
kill 'ōhi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha) on the
island of Hawaii; now, the disease has
spread to 800 square kilometers.
Based on recent and ongoing aerial surveys in
2017, about 75,000 acres of ʻōhiʻa forest currently
show symptoms of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease on
the Island of Hawaiʻi. Field researchers will be
following up with on-the-ground sampling to be
sure that ROD fungus is actually present and
causing symptoms in those areas.
Agricultural Research Service in Hilo, described
key differences between the two 'ōhi'a killers:
Ceratocystis lukuohia (comes from Latin
America), which slays trees in weeks by clogging
their circulatory systems, and C. Huliohia ( comes
from Asia and Australia) , which causes canker
sores and seems less deadly.