sudden oak death

sudden oak death (uncountable)

1. A disease that kills oak and other forest trees, caused by the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum.
   • 2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 296:

     More recently, sudden oak death, oak decline, beech wilt, sweet chestnut blight and horse chestnut canker have infested Europe’s forests.