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Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses...
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Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2018) | Viewed by 91195

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Julio Javier Diez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid-INIA, Avenida de Madrid 44, 34071 Palencia, Spain
Interests: forest pathology; biological control; fungal biodiversity; micoviruses; climate change; genetic control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Stephen Woodward

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fusarium circinatum (teleomorph: Gibberella circinata) was first detected in North America, since then, the pathogen has spread into Central and South America, South Africa, Asia and, more recently, Europe. F. circinatum is now considered the most important pathogen affecting Pinus seedlings and mature trees in many countries globally. The main aim of the PINESTRENGTH Action is to establish a European-focused network to increase knowledge of the biology, ecology and pathways of spread of F. circinatum, to examine the potential for the development of effective and environmentally-friendly prevention and mitigation strategies and to deliver these outcomes to stakeholders and policy makers.

Dr. Julio Javier Diez Casero
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Fusarium circinatum

  • pine forests

  • nurseries

  • pathogen

  • prevention and mitigation strategies

Published Papers (18 papers)

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16 pages, 3750 KiB  
Article
Factors Affecting the Distribution of Pine Pitch Canker in Northern Spain
by Lior Blank, Jorge Martín-García, Diana Bezos, Anna Maria Vettraino, Helena Krasnov, José M. Lomba, Mercedes Fernández and Julio J. Diez
Forests 2019, 10(4), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040305 - 02 Apr 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2966
Abstract
Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pine pitch canker disease (PPC), affecting Pinus species and other conifers (i.e., Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.), forming resinous cankers on the main stem and branches and causing dieback in the terminal guide. This pathogen is spreading [...] Read more.
Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pine pitch canker disease (PPC), affecting Pinus species and other conifers (i.e., Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.), forming resinous cankers on the main stem and branches and causing dieback in the terminal guide. This pathogen is spreading worldwide, causing economic losses by converting plantations into standing timber without any potential for future production. The disease was recently detected in Northern Spain in plantations of Pinus radiata and forest nurseries. The aim of the work reported here was to study the role of climatic and topographic variables, soil properties, and stand characteristics on PPC. For this purpose, we surveyed 50 pine stands in Cantabria and quantified the percentage of trees showing three symptoms in each stand: canker, defoliation, and dieback. We investigated the predictive power of 30 variables using generalized linear models and hierarchical partitioning. Both approaches yielded similar results. We found that the three symptoms correlated with different explanatory variables. In addition, more trees exhibited cankers in the proximity of the coast and the Basque Country. Additionally, our results showed that low canopy cover is related to a high level of the dieback symptom. Overall, this study highlights the important variables affecting the distribution of PPC in Cantabria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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20 pages, 2390 KiB  
Article
Fungal Communities Associated with Bark Beetles in Pinus radiata Plantations in Northern Spain Affected by Pine Pitch Canker, with Special Focus on Fusarium Species
by Diana Bezos, Pablo Martínez-Álvarez, Antonio V. Sanz-Ros, Jorge Martín-García, M. Mercedes Fernandez and Julio J. Diez
Forests 2018, 9(11), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110698 - 10 Nov 2018
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4143
Abstract
Fusarium spp., as well as other endophytic or pathogenic fungi that form communities, have been reported to be phoretically associated with bark beetles (Coleoptera; Scolytinae) worldwide. This applies to Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), which [...] Read more.
Fusarium spp., as well as other endophytic or pathogenic fungi that form communities, have been reported to be phoretically associated with bark beetles (Coleoptera; Scolytinae) worldwide. This applies to Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), which threatens Pinus radiata D. Don plantations in northern Spain. The main objective of this study was to study the fungal communities associated with bark beetles and their galleries in stands affected by PPC, with special attention given to Fusarium species. Funnel traps and logs were placed in a P. radiata plot known to be affected by F. circinatum. The traps were baited with different attractants: four with (E)-pityol and six with ethanol and α-Pinene. In addition, fresh green shoots with Tomicus piniperda L. feeding galleries were collected from the ground in 25 P. radiata plots affected by PPC. Extracts of whole insects and gallery tissues were plated on agar medium to isolate and identify the associated fungi. A total of 24 different fungal species were isolated from the bark beetle galleries constructed in logs and shoots, while 18 were isolated from the insect exoskeletons. Ten different Fusarium species were isolated from tissue and insects. Fusarium circinatum was isolated from bark beetle exoskeletons (1.05% of the Pityophthorus pubescens Marsham specimens harboured F. circinatum) and from the galleries (3.5% of the T. piniperda feeding galleries harboured the pathogen). The findings provide information about the fungal communities associated with bark beetles in P. radiata stands in northern Spain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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14 pages, 1908 KiB  
Article
Application of Bioactive Coatings Based on Chitosan and Propolis for Pinus spp. Protection against Fusarium circinatum
by Iosody Silva-Castro, Julio Javier Diez, Pablo Martín-Ramos, Glória Pinto, Artur Alves, Jesús Martín-Gil and Jorge Martín-García
Forests 2018, 9(11), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110685 - 02 Nov 2018
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3617
Abstract
Pine pitch canker (PPC) is a major threat to pine forests worldwide because of the extensive tree deaths, reduced growth, and degradation of timber quality caused by it. Furthermore, the aggressive fungus responsible for this disease (Fusarium circinatum) can also infect [...] Read more.
Pine pitch canker (PPC) is a major threat to pine forests worldwide because of the extensive tree deaths, reduced growth, and degradation of timber quality caused by it. Furthermore, the aggressive fungus responsible for this disease (Fusarium circinatum) can also infect pine seeds, causing damping-off in young seedlings. This study proposes an approach based on coating treatments consisting of natural products to ensure seed protection. Seeds from two pine species (the most sensitive to this disease, Pinus radiata D. Don, and a more resistant one, Pinus sylvestris L.) were coated with single and binary mixtures of low and medium molecular weight chitosan and/or ethanolic-propolis extract. The germination rate, pre- and post-emergence mortality, total phenolic content, and radical scavenging activity were assessed. All treatments, and especially the one based on chitosan oligomers, had a beneficial impact on P. sylvestris seedlings, significantly enhancing survival rates and displaying a positive influence on the total phenolic content and on the seedlings’ radical scavenging activity. Conversely, non-significant negative effects on germination percentages were observed in the case of P. radiata seeds. The proposed treatments show promise for the protection of P. sylvestris seedlings against PPC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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12 pages, 2605 KiB  
Article
The Fusarium Circinatum Gene Fcrho1, Encoding a Putative Rho1 GTPase, Is Involved in Vegetative Growth but Dispensable for Pathogenic Development
by E. Jordán Muñoz-Adalia, M. Carmen Cañizares, Mercedes Fernández, Julio J. Diez and M. Dolores García-Pedrajas
Forests 2018, 9(11), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110684 - 31 Oct 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3718
Abstract
Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), one of the most devastating forest diseases worldwide. This fungus causes severe damping-off in pine seedlings and growth reduction, wilting and the development of cankers in pine forests and plantations. A draft [...] Read more.
Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), one of the most devastating forest diseases worldwide. This fungus causes severe damping-off in pine seedlings and growth reduction, wilting and the development of cankers in pine forests and plantations. A draft of the complete genome sequence of this phytopathogen was recently made available. This information was used to annotate in silico the gene Fcrho1 as a putative homolog of Rho1 GTPase genes. In this study, we generated Fcrho1 deletion mutants in two F. circinatum wildtype strains isolated from damaged trees in northern Spain. For that, we used a modified version of the OSCAR methodology, an approach not previously used in F. circinatum that allows the generation of deletion constructs in a single cloning step. The conidiation and spore germination of the resulting deletion mutants were not affected, neither the hyphal morphology. However, the mutant strains showed significantly reduced growth in vitro and more foamy macroscopic hyphal morphology than their corresponding ectopic and wildtype strains. Finally, an in vivo virulence assay showed that the reduced in vitro growth rate characteristic to the deletion mutants does not impact their pathogenicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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10 pages, 2704 KiB  
Article
A Low-Cost Spore Trap Allows Collection and Real-Time PCR Quantification of Airborne Fusarium circinatum Spores
by Tania Quesada, Jennifer Hughes, Katherine Smith, Keumchul Shin, Patrick James and Jason Smith
Forests 2018, 9(10), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9100586 - 20 Sep 2018
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8537
Abstract
A variety of commercial instruments are available for sampling and quantifying microscopic airborne organisms from the environment. Although most samplers are highly sensitive, they are also expensive, costing thousands of dollars per unit, a price that is out of reach for many researchers, [...] Read more.
A variety of commercial instruments are available for sampling and quantifying microscopic airborne organisms from the environment. Although most samplers are highly sensitive, they are also expensive, costing thousands of dollars per unit, a price that is out of reach for many researchers, especially those looking to design experiments with replication. While looking at options to monitor pine stands for the presence of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker disease, on multiple sites with several units per site, we developed a simple, low-cost spore trap that allows surveying spore abundance in outdoor environments. The trap consists of a rotating motor that holds a metal rod and two petroleum jelly-coated microscope slides. As the motor rotates, the slides collect airborne particles. To test whether the traps allowed detection of F. circinatum spores, we placed six traps on three sites: an actively-managed slash pine commercial stand located in Lake Butler, FL, a semi-managed loblolly and slash pine stand near Gainesville, FL, and a site with little perturbance at Goethe State Forest, FL, consisting of mainly slash pine trees. The slides were replaced weekly, and F. circinatum was detected by quantitative PCR using species-specific primers. Results show detection of low levels ( X ¯ = 1.7–77.1 picograms ± SE = 0.3–39.7) of the pathogen spores with high reproducibility. These traps offer a low-cost solution to spore, pollen, or small insect trapping experiments for initial or general assessment of a pathogen or species population. Their low cost has the added benefit that multiple traps can be deployed per experiment, thus increasing statistical power by using multiple replications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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18 pages, 2378 KiB  
Article
EU Legislation on Forest Plant Health: An Overview with a Focus on Fusarium circinatum
by Anna Maria Vettraino, Roel Potting and Rosa Raposo
Forests 2018, 9(9), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9090568 - 14 Sep 2018
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4730
Abstract
The increase in arrivals of new forest pests highlights the need for effective phytosanitary legislation and measures. This paper introduces legislation targeted at prevention and management of potential introductions of forest pests and pathogens. An overview is given on plant health regulations on [...] Read more.
The increase in arrivals of new forest pests highlights the need for effective phytosanitary legislation and measures. This paper introduces legislation targeted at prevention and management of potential introductions of forest pests and pathogens. An overview is given on plant health regulations on global and regional level with detailed information on the situation in the European Union (EU). The current and new European legislation is discussed, and a particular focus is given on eradication and contingency plans for Fusarium circinatum. We identified key aspects relevant for the improvement of the efficacy of measures aimed to prevent alien pests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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13 pages, 892 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study of the Pathogenicity of Fusarium circinatum and other Fusarium Species in Polish Provenances of P. sylvestris L.
by Kateryna Davydenko, Justyna Anna Nowakowska, Tomasz Kaluski, Magdalena Gawlak, Katarzyna Sadowska, Jorge Martín García, Julio Javier Diez, Adam Okorski and Tomasz Oszako
Forests 2018, 9(9), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9090560 - 12 Sep 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3869
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of Pine Pitch Canker (PPC), a disease which seriously affects different species of pine in forests and nurseries worldwide. In Europe, the fungus affects pines in northern Spain and Portugal, and it has also [...] Read more.
The fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of Pine Pitch Canker (PPC), a disease which seriously affects different species of pine in forests and nurseries worldwide. In Europe, the fungus affects pines in northern Spain and Portugal, and it has also been detected in France and Italy. Here, we report the findings of the first trial investigating the susceptibility of Polish provenances of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L., to infection by F. circinatum. In a greenhouse experiment, 16 Polish provenances of Scots pine were artificially inoculated with F. circinatum and with six other Fusarium species known to infect pine seedlings in nurseries. All pines proved highly susceptible to PPC and displayed different levels of susceptibility to the other Fusarium spp. tested. The findings obtained indicate the potentially strong threat of establishment of an invasive pathogen such as F. circinatum following unintentional introduction into Poland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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16 pages, 2941 KiB  
Article
Application of Trichoderma spp. Complex and Biofumigation to Control Damping-Off of Pinus radiata D. Don Caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell
by Carmen Morales-Rodríguez, Giorgia Bastianelli, MariaPia Aleandri, Gabriele Chilosi and Andrea Vannini
Forests 2018, 9(7), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9070421 - 12 Jul 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4603
Abstract
The damping-off of Pinus radiata D.Don by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell represents a limiting factor in nursery production, while seed contamination with the pathogen is one of the main pathways of the pathogen movement between areas. Chemical and physical treatments have been [...] Read more.
The damping-off of Pinus radiata D.Don by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell represents a limiting factor in nursery production, while seed contamination with the pathogen is one of the main pathways of the pathogen movement between areas. Chemical and physical treatments have been applied with encouraging results and some limitations. In the present study, biocontrol of damping-off by F. circinatum is proposed with Trichoderma spp. complex showing complementary antagonism and biofumigation with commercial Brassica carinata A. Braun pellets with biocidal effect. Experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo using batches of P. radiata seeds and two F. circinatum isolates. Results were highly positive, showing an excellent efficacy of a combination of Trichoderma spp. in a single preparation to reduce significantly the mortality of P. radiata seedlings in seeds bed experiment. Biofumigation with B. carinata pellets also showed efficacy in controlling the F. circinatum inoculum and reducing seed mortality in inoculated seed batches although showing some phytotoxic effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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10 pages, 1124 KiB  
Communication
Vertical Transmission of Fusarium circinatum Mitoviruses FcMV1 and FcMV2-2 via Microconidia
by Carmen Romeralo, Diana Bezos, Pablo Martínez-Álvarez and Julio Javier Diez
Forests 2018, 9(6), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060356 - 14 Jun 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4058
Abstract
Pine Pitch Canker disease, caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum, affects conifer species worldwide. However, the virulence of the pathogen may be affected by the presence of mycoviruses. The aim of this laboratory-based study was to investigate the probability and rate [...] Read more.
Pine Pitch Canker disease, caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum, affects conifer species worldwide. However, the virulence of the pathogen may be affected by the presence of mycoviruses. The aim of this laboratory-based study was to investigate the probability and rate of transmission of F. circinatum mitoviruses FcMV1 and FcMV2-2 via microconidia. Ten isolates of mitovirus-infected F. circinatum were subcultured to produce a total of 100 single-spore colonies (ten replicates per isolate). The total RNA and cDNA obtained from each spore isolate (monosporic culture) were amplified by PCR with specific primers for detection of F. circinatum mitoviruses FcMV1 and FcMV2-2. The mitoviruses were detected in a high percentage of the individual spore isolates (between 60% and 100% depending on the fungal isolate). However, the probability of transmission was not statistically significantly associated with either the F. circinatum isolate or the viral strain. A high proportion of transmission via microconidia is critical for development of a biological control program against Pine Pitch Canker (PPC) disease in forests. However, further studies are needed to establish the effect of these mitoviruses on the virulence of F. circinatum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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15 pages, 1132 KiB  
Article
Root Infection of Canker Pathogens, Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia sapinea, in Asymptomatic Trees in Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster Plantations
by Laura Hernandez-Escribano, Eugenia Iturritxa, Ana Aragonés, Nebai Mesanza, Mónica Berbegal, Rosa Raposo and Margarita Elvira-Recuenco
Forests 2018, 9(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9030128 - 08 Mar 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4695
Abstract
The existence of a latent stage within host tissue of the pine pathogens Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia sapinea, the causal agents of pitch canker and shoot blight disease respectively, has previously been cited. However, studies on this cryptic phase in each disease lifecycle [...] Read more.
The existence of a latent stage within host tissue of the pine pathogens Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia sapinea, the causal agents of pitch canker and shoot blight disease respectively, has previously been cited. However, studies on this cryptic phase in each disease lifecycle has only been focused on the host aerial parts but not on the roots. Therefore, our objective was to analyze the presence of both pathogens in roots of non-symptomatic mature trees in plantations where the pathogens are known to be causing canker symptoms. For that, we sampled roots from ten non-symptomatic and ten symptomatic trees in three Pinus radiata and one Pinus pinaster plantations in Basque Country, Spain. Both pathogens were isolated from roots of non-symptomatic trees in a higher frequency than from roots of symptomatic trees, 23.3% and 6.6% respectively for D. sapinea and 16.6% and 3.3% respectively for F. circinatum. Neither pathogens was detected in the P. pinaster plantation. The two pathogens were never isolated from the same tree. A high molecular variability was observed for D. sapinea isolates with six different haplotypes and two mating types for the eleven characterized isolates, but only one haplotype and mating type was found for F. circinatum, with all isolates of both fungi being proved pathogenic. These results evidence the importance root infection may have in the disease lifecycle and, therefore, disease management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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11 pages, 1499 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Susceptibility of Several Czech Conifer Provenances to Fusarium circinatum
by Jorge Martín-García, Aneta Lukačevičová, Juan Asdrúbal Flores-Pacheco, Julio Javier Diez and Miloň Dvořák
Forests 2018, 9(2), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020072 - 01 Feb 2018
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5229
Abstract
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, is considered among the most important diseases affecting pines in many locations throughout the world. In Europe, F. circinatum is currently present in the Iberian Peninsula, posing a high risk of its spread into [...] Read more.
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, is considered among the most important diseases affecting pines in many locations throughout the world. In Europe, F. circinatum is currently present in the Iberian Peninsula, posing a high risk of its spread into currently disease-free countries in Europe. In the present study, the susceptibility of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, and Larix decidua originating in the Czech Republic to F. circinatum was tested. Furthermore, the presence of asymptomatic yet infected seedlings was also checked. This study demonstrated the pathogenicity of F. circinatum to the Czech provenance of P. sylvestris, whereas Picea abies and Larix decidua proved to be tolerant. The reisolation of F. circinatum beyond the inoculation point demonstrated that this quarantine pathogen is able to infect the three conifers tested, giving rise to asymptomatic seedlings for at least eight and a half months. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the presence of symptomless seedlings has been recorded in the genera Picea and Larix. This finding points out that the European legislation would fail to avoid the risk of new introductions via symptomless seedlings, since this legislation is only restricted to plants of the genus Pinus and the species Pseudotsuga menziesii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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2511 KiB  
Article
Phenotypical and Molecular Characterisation of Fusarium circinatum: Correlation with Virulence and Fungicide Sensitivity
by Martin Mullett, Ana Pérez-Sierra, Josep Armengol and Mónica Berbegal
Forests 2017, 8(11), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8110458 - 21 Nov 2017
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5443
Abstract
Fusarium circinatum, causing pine pitch canker, is one of the most damaging pathogens of Pinus species. This study investigated the use of phenotypical and molecular characteristics to delineate groups in a worldwide collection of isolates. The groups correlated with virulence and fungicide [...] Read more.
Fusarium circinatum, causing pine pitch canker, is one of the most damaging pathogens of Pinus species. This study investigated the use of phenotypical and molecular characteristics to delineate groups in a worldwide collection of isolates. The groups correlated with virulence and fungicide sensitivity, which were tested in a subset of isolates. Virulence tests of twenty isolates on P. radiata, P. sylvestris and P. pinaster demonstrated differences in host susceptibility, with P. radiata most susceptible and P. sylvestris least susceptible. Sensitivity to the fungicides fludioxonil and pyraclostrobin varied considerably between isolates from highly effective (half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) < 0.1 ppm) to ineffective (EC50 > 100 ppm). This study demonstrates the potential use of simply acquired phenotypical (cultural, morphological) and molecular metrics to gain a preliminary estimate of virulence and sensitivity to certain fungicides. It also highlights the necessity of including a range of isolates in fungicide tests and host susceptibility assays, particularly of relevance to tree breeding programmes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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1871 KiB  
Article
Spore Dispersal Patterns of Fusarium circinatum on an Infested Monterey Pine Forest in North-Western Spain
by Miloň Dvořák, Patrik Janoš, Leticia Botella, Gabriela Rotková and Rafael Zas
Forests 2017, 8(11), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8110432 - 15 Nov 2017
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4892
Abstract
The airborne inoculum of Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell, the fungal pathogen causing Pine Pitch Canker (PPC), is one of the main means of spread of the disease in forest stands and forest nurseries. Since this world-wide known pathogen was introduced in Europe, [...] Read more.
The airborne inoculum of Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell, the fungal pathogen causing Pine Pitch Canker (PPC), is one of the main means of spread of the disease in forest stands and forest nurseries. Since this world-wide known pathogen was introduced in Europe, its biology in this newly infested area still remains scarcely known. To shed more light on this topic, we set up an experiment on a naturally PPC infested forest of Monterey pine in Galicia (NW Spain) with the following two goals: (i) to describe the seasonal spore dispersal pattern during one year of regular sampling and (ii) to assess the spatial spore dispersal pattern around the infested plot. Portable rotating arm spore traps were used and complemented with meteorological measurements. The abundance of F. circinatum spores in the samples was assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) with a hydrolysis probe. The results showed almost permanent occurrence of the air inoculum throughout the whole year, being detected in 27 of the 30 samplings. No clear temporal trends were observed, but a higher air inoculum was favoured by previous lower air temperatures and lower leaf wetness. Conversely, neither rainfall nor air humidity seemed to have any significant importance. The spatial spread of the inoculum was noted to be successful up to a distance of 1000 m in the wind direction, even with winds of just 5 m·s−1. Our study shows that rotating arm spore traps combined with qPCR may be an efficient tool for F. circinatum detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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1739 KiB  
Article
Susceptibility of Several Northeastern Conifers to Fusarium circinatum and Strategies for Biocontrol
by Jorge Martín-García, Marius Paraschiv, Juan Asdrúbal Flores-Pacheco, Danut Chira, Julio Javier Diez and Mercedes Fernández
Forests 2017, 8(9), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8090318 - 30 Aug 2017
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4747
Abstract
Fusarium circinatum, the causal of pine pitch canker disease (PPC), is now considered among the most important pathogens of Pinaceae in the world. Although in Europe PPC is only established in the Iberian Peninsula, the potential endangered areas cover over 10 million [...] Read more.
Fusarium circinatum, the causal of pine pitch canker disease (PPC), is now considered among the most important pathogens of Pinaceae in the world. Although in Europe PPC is only established in the Iberian Peninsula, the potential endangered areas cover over 10 million hectares under the current host distribution and climatic conditions. It is therefore a priority to test the susceptibility of those species and their provenances, within Central and Northern Europe and find biological control agents (BCAs) against the disease. In this study, the susceptibility of Pinus sylvestris, P. mugo and Picea abies Romanian provenances to F. circinatum was tested using three inoculum doses. In parallel, the potential use of Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma viride as BCAs against F. circinatum was also tested. This study has demonstrated, for the first time, the susceptibility of P. mugo to F. circinatum. Likewise, the susceptibility of P. abies was also confirmed. The fact that the Romanian provenance of P. sylvestris has not been susceptible to F. circinatum suggests genetic resistance as a potential tool to manage the disease. This, together with the apparent effectiveness of Trichoderma species as BCAs, seems to indicate that an integrated management of the disease might be feasible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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1356 KiB  
Article
Sydowia polyspora Dominates Fungal Communities Carried by Two Tomicus Species in Pine Plantations Threatened by Fusarium circinatum
by E. Jordán Muñoz-Adalia, Antonio V. Sanz-Ros, Juan A. Flores-Pacheco, Jarkko Hantula, Julio J. Diez, Eeva J. Vainio and Mercedes Fernández
Forests 2017, 8(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040127 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7087
Abstract
Bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) carry a diverse filamentous fungal community sometimes acting as vectors or carriers of phytopathogens. In this study, mycobiota carried by two Tomicus species (Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus destruens) were investigated through (i) morphological and molecular identification of [...] Read more.
Bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) carry a diverse filamentous fungal community sometimes acting as vectors or carriers of phytopathogens. In this study, mycobiota carried by two Tomicus species (Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus destruens) were investigated through (i) morphological and molecular identification of taxa; (ii) taxonomic richness, diversity, evenness, dominance and phoresy indices; (iii) ecological network analysis and (iv) statistical co-occurrence analysis. The studied mycobiota were formed by eleven taxa and showed a moderate fungal diversity with low evenness. The fungus Sydowia polyspora was significantly abundant and dominated the community. All the fungal taxa were randomly associated. Both insect species (T. piniperda and T. destruens) were collected from plantations of Pinus radiata infected by Fusarium circinatum. The ecological factors that could drive community ecology and phoretic links between fungi and bark beetles are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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Review

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27 pages, 2075 KiB  
Review
Sampling and Detection Strategies for the Pine Pitch Canker (PPC) Disease Pathogen Fusarium circinatum in Europe
by Eeva J. Vainio, Diana Bezos, Helena Bragança, Michelle Cleary, Gerda Fourie, Margarita Georgieva, Luisa Ghelardini, Salla Hannunen, Renaud Ioos, Jorge Martín-García, Pablo Martínez-Álvarez, Martin Mullett, Tomasz Oszako, Irena Papazova-Anakieva, Barbara Piškur, Carmen Romeralo, Antonio V. Sanz-Ros, Emma T. Steenkamp, Katherine Tubby, Michael J. Wingfield and Julio J. Diezadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Forests 2019, 10(9), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10090723 - 22 Aug 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6149
Abstract
Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnel is listed among the species recommended for regulation as quarantine pests in Europe. Over 60 Pinus species are susceptible to the pathogen and it also causes disease on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and species in genera [...] Read more.
Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnel is listed among the species recommended for regulation as quarantine pests in Europe. Over 60 Pinus species are susceptible to the pathogen and it also causes disease on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and species in genera such as Picea and Larix. The European Food Safety Authority considers the probability of new introductions—via contaminated seeds, wood material, soil and growing substrates, natural means and human activities—into the EU very likely. Due to early detection, constant surveillance and control measures, F. circinatum outbreaks have officially been eradicated in Italy and France. However, the global spread of F. circinatum suggests that the pathogen will continue to be encountered in new environments in the future. Therefore, continuous surveillance of reproductive material, nurseries and plantations, prompt control measures and realistic contingency plans will be important in Europe and elsewhere to limit disease spread and the “bridgehead effect”, where new introductions of a tree pathogen become increasingly likely as new environments are invaded, must be considered. Therefore, survey programs already implemented to limit the spread in Europe and that could be helpful for other EU countries are summarized in this review. These surveys include not only countries where pitch canker is present, such as Portugal and Spain, but also several other EU countries where F. circinatum is not present. Sampling protocols for seeds, seedlings, twigs, branches, shoots, soil samples, spore traps and insects from different studies are collated and compiled in this review. Likewise, methodology for morphological and molecular identification is herein presented. These include conventional PCR with a target-specific region located in the intergenic spacer region, as well as several real-time PCR protocols, with different levels of specificity and sensitivity. Finally, the global situation and future perspectives are addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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34 pages, 988 KiB  
Review
Pine Pitch Canker and Insects: Regional Risks, Environmental Regulation, and Practical Management Options
by Mercedes Fernández-Fernández, Pedro Naves, Dmitry L. Musolin, Andrey V. Selikhovkin, Michelle Cleary, Danut Chira, Marius Paraschiv, Tom Gordon, Alejandro Solla, Irena Papazova-Anakieva, Tiia Drenkhan, Margarita Georgieva, Aliye Altunisik, Carmen Morales-Rodríguez, Mara Tabaković-Tošić, Dimitrios N. Avtzis, Georgi Georgiev, Danail D. Doychev, Sterja Nacheski, Tarik Trestic, Margarita Elvira-Recuenco, Julio J. Diez and Johanna Witzelladd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Forests 2019, 10(8), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10080649 - 01 Aug 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6396
Abstract
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg and O’ Donnell), is a serious threat to pine forests globally. The recent introduction of the pathogen to Southern Europe and its spread in Mediterranean region is alarming considering the immense [...] Read more.
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg and O’ Donnell), is a serious threat to pine forests globally. The recent introduction of the pathogen to Southern Europe and its spread in Mediterranean region is alarming considering the immense ecological and economic importance of pines in the region. Pines in forests and nurseries can be infected, resulting in severe growth losses and mortality. The pathogen is known to spread in plants for planting and in seeds, and results from recent studies have indicated that F. circinatum may also spread through phoretic associations with certain insects. With this review, we aim to expand the current understanding of the risk of insect-mediated spread of PPC in different parts of Europe. Through the joint action of a multinational researcher team, we collate the existing information about the insect species spectrum in different biogeographic conditions and scrutinize the potential of these insects to transmit F. circinatum spores in forests and nurseries. We also discuss the impact of environmental factors and forest management in this context. We present evidence for the existence of a high diversity of insects with potential to weaken pines and disseminate PPC in Europe, including several common beetle species. In many parts of Europe, temperatures are projected to rise, which may promote the activity of several insect species, supporting multivoltinism and thus, further amplifying the risk of insect-mediated dissemination of PPC. Integrated pest management (IPM) solutions that comply with forest management practices need to be developed to reduce this risk. We recommend careful monitoring of insect populations as the basis for successful IPM. Improved understanding of environmental control of the interaction between insects, the pathogen, and host trees is needed in order to support development of bio-rational strategies to safeguard European pine trees and forests against F. circinatum in future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
23 pages, 899 KiB  
Review
Pine Pitch Canker and Insects: Relationships and Implications for Disease Spread in Europe
by Mercedes Fernández-Fernández, Pedro Naves, Johanna Witzell, Dmitry L. Musolin, Andrey V. Selikhovkin, Marius Paraschiv, Danut Chira, Pablo Martínez-Álvarez, Jorge Martín-García, E. Jordán Muñoz-Adalia, Aliye Altunisik, Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza, Silvia Di Silvestro, Cristina Zamora and Julio J. Diez
Forests 2019, 10(8), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10080627 - 26 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4424
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg and O’ Donnell) is the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC) disease, which seriously affects conifer species in forests and nurseries worldwide. In Europe, PPC is only established in the Iberian Peninsula; however, it is presumed [...] Read more.
The fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg and O’ Donnell) is the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC) disease, which seriously affects conifer species in forests and nurseries worldwide. In Europe, PPC is only established in the Iberian Peninsula; however, it is presumed that its range could expand through the continent in the near future. Infection caused by this fungus requires open wounds on the tree, including physical damage caused by insects. Therefore, a relationship probably occurs between PPC and a wide variety of insects. The aim of this review is to outline the taxonomic and ecological diversity of insect species with high potential association with F. circinatum in Europe and elsewhere. The insects were classified as vectors, carriers and wounding agents according to the association level with the PPC disease. In addition, we discuss the insect-mediated spreading of PPC disease in relation to the different phases of forest stand development, from seeds and seedlings in nurseries to mature stands. Lastly, to improve our predictive capacities and to design appropriate intervention measures and strategies for controlling disease dissemination by insects, variables such as geographic location, time of the year and host species should be considered. Our review provides a framework of the multiple factors that regulate the insect–host interactions and determine the success of the infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))
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