Matteo Garbelotto, a forest pathologist at UC Berkeley, is one of the nation's foremost experts on the tree-killing pathogen known as Sudden Oak Death. The specialist in molecular cell biology tracked the disease, known scientifically as Phytophthora ramorum, as it killed tens of thousands of oak trees and spread throughout California. He spoke recently to Chronicle reporter Peter Fimrite about his background and work.

Q: How did you become a forest pathologist and what does that mean?

A: I have always loved trees. My honeymoon three years ago was hiking in the Dolomite Alps of Italy and sleeping on cots in mountain huts along the way. I became a forester because I wanted to dedicate my life to keeping our forests healthy and alive for future generations. A forest pathologist is not merely a tree doctor, but somebody who studies the complex ecology and delicate balance of forests. The distinguishing trait of a forest pathologist is that he has to have knowledge of multiple fields from ecology to microbiology, botany, plant physiology, chemistry and genetics.

Q: How serious a problem is Sudden Oak Death and will it eventually be fatal to our oak trees?

A: Sudden Oak Death is the poster child of a huge environmental crisis linking an industry - ornamental plants that inadvertently brought the disease into our state - and the natural forest ecosystems where the disease is spreading rapidly and causing oak and tanoak mortality the likes of which has never been seen. There is no easy fix. The pathogen is not going away no matter what we do. I do not think it will completely eliminate oaks, but it will kill entire populations of oaks and especially tanoaks. The coastal forests our grandchildren will see will be very different from the ones we know, and if you have seen "Avatar," well, that concept of all plants being interconnected is actually true. So we can expect some effect on trees other than oaks, like redwoods. This is why we need to keep the pressure on the government. By involving entire communities, we may have a shot at slowing this epidemic down and saving significant numbers of oaks.

Q: What about the Bay Area is so attractive to Italian scientists?

A: My relationship with the Bay Area has been love-hate. It is excessively congested, too cold, far away from any other major cultural hub, but I love the cultural and natural diversity. When I am away, I really miss its complexity. Other places, including my native Italy, appear quite homogeneous in comparison. Plus, I love the vibrant life of San Francisco. I arrived before the gentrification brought on by the dot-com boom, and that will always be the image I keep in my heart. I am also proud and humbled to be on the faculty at UC Berkeley, which I believe is the greatest public university in the world. And did I mention I am gay? It is wonderful to be in such an open and accepting environment. I travel a lot, and in so many places I really have to hide who I am, and my husband and partner of almost 20 years suddenly has to become a "friend." So I say, Viva San Francisco.