Media interview Smart about black lawn

The Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5), News Center Maine and WGAN Morning News interviewed Alicyn Smart, plant pathologist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, about a little-known plant disease spreading across Maine. Black lawn, an opportunistic fungus that attacks dying tissue, has not been seen in Maine for at least three decades. But Smart notes that the fungus, Cladosporium, has likely been here and remained dormant until conditions were right. “The spores are always present but we just don’t see them,” Smart said. There is no treatment for black lawn, which thrives in dry and humid conditions, so Smart recommends watering as a preventive measure. The fungus is not harmful to humans, pets, vegetables or flowers. Cooperative Extension has published an online black lawn resource page. The Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, U.S. News & World ReportPiscataquis Observer, Morning Ag Clips, Coast 93.1fosters.com, boston.com and Centralmaine.com shared a UMaine media release about black lawn and assistance from Extension. WGME (Channel 13 in Portland) shared the BDN article.