Welcome to TCD Ground Zero!

Black walnut innative to much of the eastern U.S., where it is found in many rural and urban areas. It is an important economic forest (valued for wood -- lumber and veneers) and food (valued for nutmeat) resource. Standing black walnut is valued at $569 billion. A new disease calledthousand cankers disease, which has killed thousands of trees, threatens the health and survival of black walnuts in the U.S., particularly in its native range. This disease also has affected other walnut species, including Arizona walnut, English walnut, and California walnut, with varying degrees of susceptibility.


Thousand cankers disease is caused by a canker-producing fungus (Geosmithia morbida) which is carried by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis). This small beetle (ca. 1.5mm long), native to the Southwest, burrows into small branches and bark of walnut trees, where it forms galleries. The females lay eggs in these galleries, where the larvae develop and the next generation is produced. The beetles carry the disease-causing fungus, which forms cankers on the tree. Excessive years of feeding can lead to the development of thousands of cankers (hence the name – thousand cankers disease), which can eventually kill a tree.  Our goal is to share information on this potentially devastating disease to enhance knowledge to reduce its spread and impact on black walnut.


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Notice: TCD/EAB Hands-On Workshop Planned for 2016

TheNEXT 'Conference on TCD/EAB in the Eastern U.S.' will be held in June 2016 on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, TN. Please visit this site later for more information and details.

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TCD/EAB Workshop was a SUCCESS!


A three-day hands-on workshop on thousand cankers disease (TCD) and emerald ash borer (EAB) was held on June 16-18, 2015 in Knoxville, TN. The workshop focused 1 1/2 days on TCD and 1 1/2 days on EAB. Twenty five attendees from nine states participated in the workshop.



Thousand Cankers Disease Links

Thousands Cankers Disease


TN Dept. of Agriculture - TCD


Colorado State University - TCD


Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture - TCD

Find more helpful TCD links here