Phytophthora ramorum
Trials of silvicultural methods for treating "P. ramorum" began in Humboldt County in northwest coastal California in 2006. The trials have taken place on a variety of infested properties both private and public and have generally focused on varying levels and kinds of host removal. The largest () and most replicated trials have involved removal of tanoak and bay laurel by chainsaw throughout the infested stand, both with and without subsequent underburning designed to eliminate small seedlings and infested leaf litter. Other treatments included host removal in a modified “shaded fuelbreak” design in which all bay laurel is removed, but not all tanoaks; bay and tanoak removal using herbicides; and removal of bay laurel alone. The results of these treatments are still being monitored, but repeated sampling has so far detected only very small amounts of "P. ramorum" in the soil or on vegetation in the treated sites.
Phytophthora ramorum
Because of these difficulties, researchers have developed some other approaches for identifying "P. ramorum". The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test can be the first step in nonculture methods of identifying "P. ramorum", but it can only be a first step, because it detects the presence of proteins that are produced by all "Phytophthora" species. In other words, it can identify to the genus level, but not to the species level. ELISA tests can process large numbers of samples at once, so researchers often use it to screen out likely positive samples from those that are not when the total number of samples is very large. Some manufacturers produce small-scale ELISA “field kits” that the homeowner can use to determine if plant tissue is infected by "Phytophthora".