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Disease
The Swamp White oak has been affected in the past by multiple diseases and fungi. Issues involving oak wilt and oak wilt fungus are the leading threats to the swamp white and other oaks (closely to white oak). Other threats, specifically in Illinois, are Phomopsis canker and Coniothyrium dieback. Although dangerous, swamp white oak have a good resistance to these diseases. If infected, the tree will slowly begin to decay and die.

Oak Wilt and Oak Wilt Disease
Oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) is the leading cause of Swamp White Oak deformity and decay. It is caused by a fungus called Bretziella fagacearum and it attacks/infects a trees water conducting system This fungus is transported to the trees through insects that use the tree as a food resources. It is spread through the roots of the infected oak, which later can infect the surrounding roots of other oaks. Key indicators of oak wilt include discoloration and impurity of leaves, along with introduction of spores in cut bark.

Phomopsis
Phomopsis, a common pathogen, is primarily found in woody areas and species of trees. This pathogen attacks through breaks or cuts in the trees branches or bark, causing deformity in branches, bark, and seeds. Phomopsis can be identified by holes in bark, dead branches and "disperses cream-colored spores produced on small black fungal “fruiting bodies.”