Diagnostic testing to detect forest pathogens requires the collection of physical samples from
affected trees, which can be challenging in remote or rugged environments. As an
alternative to traditional ground-based sampling at breast height by field crews, we
examined the feasibility of aerially sampling and testing material collected from upper
canopy branches using a small unoccupied aerial system (sUAS). The pathogen of interest
in this study is Ceratocystis lukuohia, the fungal pathogen responsible for Ceratocystis wilt of …