'Tis the season to be jolly, but have you ever stopped to think about the future of our beloved Christmas trees? With climate change on the rise, researchers and tree breeders are starting to ponder the fate of these festive evergreens.
Jim Rockis, a Christmas tree breeder from West Virginia and Pennsylvania, knows all too well the devastating effects of Phytophthora root rot. This fungal disease thrives in warmer and wetter soil conditions, causing saplings to wither away and needles to turn a crisp burnt orange. As our climate continues to warm, these ideal Christmas tree-growing regions may no longer be suitable for our cherished holiday traditions.
