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Forests
Special Issues
Application of Molecular Genetic Tools for Forest Pathology
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Application of Molecular Genetic Tools for Forest Pathology

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2024) | Viewed by 2110

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nevenka Ćelepirović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Croatian Forest Research Institute, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Interests: population genetics; genetic variability; tree physiology; fungal pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sanja Novak-Agbaba

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Forest Protection and Game Management, Croatian Forest Research Institute, Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Interests: forest protection; forest phytopathology; forest diseases; chestnut bark cancer, integral protection of chestnut forests; forest seed mycoflora; forest tree rotting fungi
Dr. Aikaterini Dounavi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Forest Protection, Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg, Wonnhaldesttr. 4, 79100 Freiburg, Germany
Interests: molecular markers; plant genetics; DNA sequence analysis; conservation genetics; molecular biology; genetics; molecular evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, molecular genetic methods for studying and understanding plant health, plant–pathogen interactions, and plant diseases have been successfully established. The involvement of molecular genetics in plant pathology aims to improve our understanding of dynamic interactions among various biotic and abiotic components, develop new methods for forest tree pathogen protection, and develop effective disease management strategies. New molecular genetic methods find application in both pests and pathogen diagnostics, control and management activities. In the field of diagnostics, several molecular genetic methods are available for identifying different pest/pathogen species and pathogen strains, as well as their evolutionary relationships. The identification of pests and pathogens using molecular methods, such as PCR and DNA sequencing, is commonly used to identify the specific pests and pathogens causing damage and disease in a tree. Phylogenetic analyses are implemented to study evolutionary relationships among different pests and pathogen species and thus offer information about disease outbreaks and spread. In the field of pests and pathogen control, the identification of genetic markers associated with tree resistance provides information that can be used in breeding programs for disease-resistant trees. In this way, the development of more effective strategies for controlling pests and plant diseases is possible. Moreover, identifying natural antagonists of pests and pathogens by using molecular genetic methods (e.g., meta-barcoding) offers new possibilities for biological control. This Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the application of molecular genetics in forest pathology. It aims to highlight advances in the use of molecular genetic tools (barcoding/meta-barcoding, next-generation sequencing, phylogenetic analysis) in forest pathology, covering topics such as disease diagnostics, pests and pathogen detection and diversity, host–pathogen interactions, and disease management.

Dr. Nevenka Ćelepirović
Dr. Sanja Novak-Agbaba
Dr. Aikaterini Dounavi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • molecular genetics
  • forest pathology
  • disease identification
  • pest detection, pathogen detection
  • phylogenetic analysis
  • disease management
  • host–pathogen interactions
  • fungal diversity
  • next-generation sequencing
  • barcoding
  • meta-barcoding

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 667 KiB  
Article
Diagnostic Sensitivity of Phytophthora ×alni from Environmental Samples Using Conventional and Real-Time PCR
by Aleksandra Trzewik and Teresa Orlikowska
Forests 2025, 16(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010068 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 559
Abstract
The study aims to compare the sensitivity of conventional and real-time PCR in detecting Phytophthora ×alni DNA in plants, peat substrate, and water. The accuracy of the detection of DNA isolated from pure cultures of P. ×alni and the influence of DNA isolated [...] Read more.
The study aims to compare the sensitivity of conventional and real-time PCR in detecting Phytophthora ×alni DNA in plants, peat substrate, and water. The accuracy of the detection of DNA isolated from pure cultures of P. ×alni and the influence of DNA isolated from Alnus tissue and peat substrate on the sensitivity of P. ×alni detection are assessed. Real-time PCR is 100-fold more sensitive than conventional PCR in the reaction with DNA extracted from plants and peat. Adding 1 µL and 3 µL of plant and peat DNA, respectively, reduces the sensitivity of P. ×alni detection by 100 times when using conventional PCR and by 10 times when using real-time PCR. The conventional PCR technique allows for the detection of P. ×alni on the day the first necrosis symptoms become visible or two days before they appear on artificially inoculated shoots. The real-time PCR technique allows for the detection of P. ×alni, depending on the zoospore concentration and isolate, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 days before necrosis appears. Conventional and real-time PCR allow for the detection of 250 and 100 P. ×alni zoospores, respectively, in a 0.5 g peat substrate sample and 25 and 10 spores, respectively, in 100 µL water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Molecular Genetic Tools for Forest Pathology)
25 pages, 10880 KiB  
Article
Differential Photosynthetic and Proteomics Responses Between Male and Female Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall Infected by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler
by Huimin Tian, Yaseen Khan, Lingfeng Miao and Fan Yang
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122093 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 761
Abstract
Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler is a widespread leaf blight pathogen that disrupts many plants; including poplars. Despite its broad impact, the sex-specific responses of male and female plants to this pathogen remain poorly studied. This study investigated sex differences in the morphological; photosynthetic; [...] Read more.
Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler is a widespread leaf blight pathogen that disrupts many plants; including poplars. Despite its broad impact, the sex-specific responses of male and female plants to this pathogen remain poorly studied. This study investigated sex differences in the morphological; photosynthetic; and proteomic responses between male and female Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall infected with A. alternata. The results showed that the female plants had a faster onset of infection and more inhibited growth in comparison to males. In terms of photosynthetic parameters, the infected females were more severely affected, with 2 subunits in the photosynthetic electron transport chain expressed at higher levels and 12 subunits expressed at lower levels than in the infected males. Regarding the antioxidant system; the infected female plants exhibited higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents but lower antioxidant activities, with significantly lower expressions of 2 superoxide dismutases (SODs); 2 peroxidases (PODs); 2 ascorbate peroxidases (APXs); 2 glutathione peroxidases; and 4 glutathione S-transferases compared to the infected males. In the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, the expressions of shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase and ferulate-5-hydroxylase were upregulated in both male and female plants after infection. However, the expression of shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase in female plants was consistently higher, while the expression of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase was lower in females compared to males. These indicate that A. alternata infection induces significant alterations in the photosynthetic capacity; antioxidant system; and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway in both male and female poplars. Moreover, bimodal regulation was observed, with male poplars demonstrating greater stability in both photosynthetic and antioxidant systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Molecular Genetic Tools for Forest Pathology)
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