Defense Mechanisms of Forest Trees against Fungi

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 5635

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Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: plant-microbe interactions; soil microbial communities; mycorrhizae; microbial diversity
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Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Interests: plant microbiome; microbe-induced plant tolerance to stresses; endophyte; sustainable agriculture
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest ecosystems comprise multiple fungal species with diversified ecological roles. Beyond the major role played as decomposers and recyclers, fungi are also particularly distinguished for causing forest tree diseases. In recent years, fungal pathogens have damaged forest ecosystems at an alarming pace. The immanent changes to the climate are further threatening forest ecosystems, since the phytopathogen distribution and severity of fungal diseases are increasing, and the rate at which endophytes switch from mutualistic to pathogenic behavior is changing. The methods currently used to reduce the impact of forest tree diseases are still largely based on the use of conventional synthetic agro-chemicals, which, besides causing serious problems to human health and the environment, are relatively ineffective. To defend themselves against fungal phytopathogens, plants are able to build elaborate constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms. However, the resistance mechanisms are not always the same as those described in plant models and new information is required to understand forest tree defenses and strategies. With this Special Issue, we encourage studies from all fields related to the defense mechanisms of forest trees against fungal pathogens, especially those providing new information about constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms in forest tree species, the distribution and severity of forest tree fungal pathogens and their control mechanisms, as well as management strategies for controlling forest tree fungal diseases. Both original works and reviews are welcome, in particular, if they promote knowledge and new strategies for the preservation and management of healthy forest ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Teresa Lino-Neto
Prof. Dr. Paula Baptista
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Biocontrol against forest pathogens
  • Constitutive and inducible defenses
  • Forest management
  • Forest tree defense responses
  • Forest trees disease
  • Fungal pathogens

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3498 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Biotic and Abiotic Stress Factors on Development of European Ash Tissue Cultures
by Katarzyna Nawrot-Chorabik, Małgorzata Sułkowska, Małgorzata Osmenda, Vasyl Mohytych, Ewa Surówka and Dariusz Latowski
Forests 2022, 13(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010059 - 4 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2607
Abstract
Fraxinus excelsior L. is threatened by a variety of environmental factors causing a decline of the species. The most important biotic factors negatively affecting the condition of the F. excelsior population are fungi such as the pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Abiotic factors with [...] Read more.
Fraxinus excelsior L. is threatened by a variety of environmental factors causing a decline of the species. The most important biotic factors negatively affecting the condition of the F. excelsior population are fungi such as the pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Abiotic factors with potentially harmful effect to the F. excelsior population are the accumulation of heavy metals and salinity in soils. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of selected biotic and abiotic stress factors to determine which of them pose a threat to European ash. The study was conducted using in vitro techniques based on callus and seedlings regenerated via indirect organogenesis. Tissue cultures exclude the influence of other factors, including the environmental impact on ash extinction. The results confirmed very strong pathogenic potential of H. fraxineus in which after 14 days the callus tissue cells died as the tissue failed to activate its defense mechanisms. Experiments showed the high toxicity of cadmium in concentration of 0.027 mmol/L. Salinity caused the activity of oxidation enzymes to vary among seedlings and calluses in the control suggesting the enzymes play a role in controlling the morphogenetic development of tissue cultures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Defense Mechanisms of Forest Trees against Fungi)
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14 pages, 2261 KiB  
Article
Synanthropic Process Evaluation (with Factors Affecting Propensity to Parasitism) and Host Range within the Genus Ganoderma in Central Europe
by Kateřina Náplavová, Terézia Beck, Ján Gáper, Petr Pyszko and Svetlana Gáperová
Forests 2021, 12(11), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12111437 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Ganoderma P. Karst. is a genus of wood decaying fungi with complicated taxonomy due to morphological variability of their basidiomata. Although a wide range of host plants is assumed for the genus as a whole, there is a need for revision of the [...] Read more.
Ganoderma P. Karst. is a genus of wood decaying fungi with complicated taxonomy due to morphological variability of their basidiomata. Although a wide range of host plants is assumed for the genus as a whole, there is a need for revision of the host specificity of individual species. Based on revision of mycological collections across the Czech Republic we analyzed the ecological trends of six European species, including host preferences and propensity to parasitism. Individual Ganoderma species were sampled differentially along vegetation categories, with G. adspersum (Schulzer) Donk prevailing in habitats with high anthropogenic factors and G. applanatum (Pers.) Pat. in natural vegetation with limited anthropogenic influence, differing also in average altitude of sampling. The number of host species of individual Ganoderma spp. did not reach an asymptote, suggesting an open host plasticity and great potential for finding new host associations in future. Very distinct host compositions were found for individual Ganoderma species, at the genus level, with G. applanatum being the least host specific. Individual Ganoderma species differ also in their tendency to parasitic life strategy. The proportion of parasites increases with decreasing vegetation category and it is therefore higher in urban than natural environment, especially on hardwood trees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Defense Mechanisms of Forest Trees against Fungi)
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