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Chestnut Blight (chestnut + blight)

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Distribution and severity of damage by Cryphonectria parasitica in the chestnut stands in Guilan province, Iran

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
E. Ghezi
Summary Chestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitica has recently been reported from Guilan province, the only region with natural chestnut (Castanea sativa) stands in Iran. During the past few years, chestnut stands in Iran have been seriously threatened by the fungus, incidence of the disease is increasing and vast canopies are reduced to sprouts. As yet, there is no report on the disease distribution and severity in this region. Six sites from three main growing regions of chestnut in Guilan province were selected for investigation. We report occurrence and evaluation of the damage of the disease caused by C. parasitica. To evaluate the scale of damage, the investigated trees were classified into six categories based on the degree of crown damage, the number of canker wounds and the presence of the fungus. Index of health condition was calculated for all sites. During this study, a total of 250 isolates of Cryphonectria species were obtained, of which 232 isolates were C. parasitica and 18 were Cryphonectria radicalis. Castanea parasitica was observed in all regions. Index of health condition was scored from 0 to 6 with 0 being disease free and six being the most severe infection. Index results in the investigated sites varied between 0.69,5.45 and 0.93,5.55 for years 2006 and 2007, respectively. The highest damage was found in Doran (IH = 5.55), which is located some 100 km away from Shahbalutmahalleh, the site with lowest damage (IH = 0.93). This is the first extended report on aspects of chestnut blight in Iran. [source]

Characteristics of the Cryphonectria parasitica isolated from Quercus in Slovakia

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
K. Adam, íková
Summary The occurrence of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) on oaks in mixed chestnut-oak forests was studied in 2003,2008 in Slovakia. Infections on living Quercus trees were found at four of seven localities. The disease incidence on oaks ranged from 1.3% to 15.8%. The symptoms on infected oaks were similar to those on chestnut, but less conspicuous. Cankers of C. parasitica were found only on Quercus robur and Q. petraea. A total of 22 isolates of C. parasitica, all virulent, were isolated. Each site yielded only a single vc type (EU12 or EU13). Field inoculation experiments on chestnuts with seven strains of C. parasitica from oaks and an isolate from Castanea sativa showed no differences in virulence. On Quercus robur stems, the cankered area was significantly smaller than on C. sativa and the cankers developed very slowly. [source]

Distribution and severity of damage by Cryphonectria parasitica in the chestnut stands in Guilan province, Iran

Vegetative compatibility types of Cryphonectria parasitica, causal agent of chestnut blight, in the Black Sea region of Turkey

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
S. Akilli
Summary Vegetative compatibility types (vc types) of 296 isolates of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, were determined. The isolates had been obtained from 32 localities in 11 provinces in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Five vc types were detected: EU-1, EU-12, EU-14, EU-2 and EU-5. The number of vc types found in single provinces varied between one and five. All of the five vc types were present only in the Kastamonu province. Vc type EU-1 was detected in all the provinces. EU-1 accounted for 90.8% of all isolates. Vc type EU-12 was present in eight provinces and accounted for 6.8% of the isolates, whereas one or two isolates each of EU-14, EU-2 and EU-5 were found in one or two provinces. Isolates possessing the white colony phenotype were considered to be hypovirulent. Hypovirulent isolates of each vc type were found, and they were detected in nine of 11 provinces. [source]

Seasonal effect on infection and development of lesions caused by Cryphonectria parasitica in Castanea sativa

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
L. Guérin
Summary Seasonal variation in the development of chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, was investigated by inoculating in situ chestnut trees and in vitro excised chestnut segments, at either monthly or 3-monthly intervals throughout 30 months. Inoculations were made with conidia and mycelium of a virulent isolate and with mycelium of a hypovirulent isolate. Conidial inoculations of living sprouts or excised segments between May and July resulted in the greatest incidence of infection whereas inoculations in autumn and winter, in vitro as well as in situ, did not reveal any visible disease. However, from these symptomless inoculated stems, C. parasitica was isolated 3 months after inoculation. Inoculations with the mycelium of the virulent isolate always resulted in lesions, except in January 1999, and the greatest rate of lesion development occurred for inoculations made in the spring and summer. There was a significant seasonal effect on lesion development. Lesions caused by the hypovirulent isolate, smaller than those caused by the virulent isolate, followed a similar seasonal pattern. The same seasonal variations were observed for inoculations in vitro of excised segments. Relative water content (RWC) of chestnut bark significantly varied with bark sampling date. The rate of lesion development in sprouts significantly correlated with average minimum (ATn) and maximum (ATx) temperatures and the sum of rainfall during inoculation period, with the rate of lesion development measured in excised segments 10 days after inoculation (R10d) and with RWC measured on the day of inoculation. In multiple regression models, variables ATx and R10d best explained variation in lesion development. Résumé La variation saisonnière du développement de la maladie du chancre causée par Cryphonectria parasitica a étéétudiée en réalisant, une fois par mois ou par trimestre pendant deux ans et demi, des inoculations de châtaigniers in situ et des inoculations in vitro de branches coupées. Les inoculations ont été réalisées avec des conidies et du mycélium d'un isolat virulent et avec du mycélium d'un isolat hypovirulent. En Mai et Juin, les inoculations conidiennes ont provoqué le taux d'infection le plus élevé, in situ et in vitro. A l'inverse, en automne et en hiver, ces inoculations n'ont pas causé de symptômes. Cependant C. parasitica a été réisolé 3 mois plus tard, sur ces tiges ne présentant aucune lésion. Les inoculations avec du mycélium ont toujours résulté en des lésions, excepté en Janvier 1999, et le développement des lésions (R1m) a été le plus rapide au printemps et en été. La date d'inoculation a eu un effet significatif sur l'extension des lésions. Le même effet saisonnier était observé sur le développement des lésions causées par l'isolat hypovirulent, plus petites que celles causées par l'isolat virulent. Les mêmes variations saisonnières de l'extension des lésions étaient observées in vitro sur tiges excisées. Un effet saisonnier significatif a été mis en évidence sur la teneur en eau relative des écorces de châtaignier (RWC). Le développement des lésions dans les tissus vivants était significativement corrélé avec les températures moyennes minimale (ATn) et maximale (ATx) et la somme des précipitations (SR) calculées sur chaque période d'incubation, avec le développement des lésions in vitro (R10d) et avec RWC. La variation saisonnière du développement des lésions était le mieux expliquée, par un modèle de régression multiple, par ATx et R10d pour l'isolat virulent, et par ATx pour l'isolat hypovirulent. Zusammenfassung Der jahreszeitlich bedingte Einfluß auf die Entstehung von Kastanienrindenkrebs, verursacht von Cryphonectria parasitica, wurde durch Inokulation von Kastanienbäumen in situ und durch Beimpfung von geschnittenen Triebsegmenten in vitro in monatlichen oder drei-monatlichen Intervallen über dreißig Monate untersucht. Zur Inokulation wurden Myzel und Konidien eines virulenten Isolates und Myzel eines hypovirulenten Isolates verwendet. Mit Konidien wurde zwischen Mai und Juni die größte Infektionshäufigkeit auf lebenden Sprossen oder Triebsegmenten erreicht, während Inokulationen im Herbst und Winter keine sichtbaren Symptome hervorriefen. Jedoch konnte C. parastica drei Monate nach Inokulation von lebenden Sprossen isoliert werden, auch wenn keine Läsion sichtbar war. Außer im Januar 1999 führte Inokulation mit Myzel des virulenten Isolates immer zu Läsionen. Am häufigsten traten Läsionen bei Inokulationen im Frühling und im Sommer auf. Der Einfluß des Inokulationszeitpunktes auf die Ausbildung von Läsionen war signifikant. Inokulationen mit dem hypovirulenten Isolat zeigten eine ähnliche jahreszeitliche Schwankung wie jene mit dem virulenten Isolat, führten aber zu kleineren Läsionen. Die gleichen jahreszeitlichen Variationen wurden bei in vitro Inokulation von Kastanientrieben beobachtet. Der relative Wassergehalt (RWC) der Borke variierte signifikant mit dem Beprobungszeitpunkt der Borke. Die Bildung von Läsionen an lebenden Sprossen korrelierte signifikant mit den durchschnittlichen Temperaturminima (ATn) und -maxima (ATx), mit der Gesamtregenmenge (SR) während der Inokulationsperiode, mit der Bildung von Läsionen an Triebsegmenten (R10d) und mit dem am Inokulationstag gemessenen RWC. In einem multiplen Regressionsanalysenmodell zeigte sich, dass die jahreszeitliche Schwankung der Ausbildung von Kastanienrindenkrebs beim virulenten Isolat am besten durch die Variablen ATx und R10d, beim hypovirulenen Isolat durch ATx erklärt wurde. [source]

Persistence of Cryphonectria hypoviruses after their release for biological control of chestnut blight in West Virginia forests

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
Y.-C. Liu
Summary Although Cryphonectria hypoviruses have been relatively successful as biological control agents of chestnut blight in Europe, their success in North America has been limited. Experimental releases of hypoviruses were made in 1978,82 at two sites in West Virginia forests with high densities of regenerating chestnut trees. Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) from Europe, as well as American isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica containing CHV-3, were used for these releases. Although most trees died during the 5-year release period, it was not known if the hypoviruses persisted in the C. parasitica population at the two sites. When the experimental plots were revisited in 1994, few chestnut trees were found. The exception was one plot containing coppice sprouts that had grown from the root collars of the original trees. The authors intensively sampled C. parasitica from experimental plots and screened recovered isolates for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). None of the isolates contained CHV-1; only six isolates contained CHV-3, all from the plots with the coppice sprouts. CHV-4, which occurs naturally in West Virginia forests and in two released isolates, hybridized to dsRNA from the isolates containing CHV-3, indicating mixed infections. CHV-4 also hybridized to dsRNA from other isolates sampled inside and outside the treated plots. In contrast to CHV-1 and CHV-3, however, CHV-4 has little effect on the growth or phenotype of C. parasitica. The limited persistence of CHV-1 and CHV-3 may have resulted when the C. parasitica population was reduced in size due to the failure of chestnut trees to resprout because of competition from other hardwood species. Résumé Bien que les hypovirus de Cryphonectria aient remporté un réel succès comme agents de lutte biologique contre le chancre du châtaignier en Europe, leur succès en Amérique du nord a été limité. Des applications d'hypovirus ont été faites en 1978,1982 en Virginie de l'ouest dans deux sites forestiers à fortes densités de régénérations de châtaigniers. Le CHV-1 originaire d'Europe ainsi que des isolats américains contenant le CHV-3 ont été utilisés dans ces essais. Bien que la plupart des arbres soient morts pendant les cinq ans de l'application, on ne sait pas si les hypovirus ont persisté dans la population de Cryphonectria parasitica. Quand les parcelles expérimentales ont été revisitées en 1994, peu de châtaigniers ont été trouvés. Un site faisait exception qui était un taillis de rejets issu de racines de souches. Nous avons échantillonné intensivement le C. parasitica dans les placettes et le dsRNA a été examiné dans les isolats obtenus. Parmi tous les isolats provenant des placettes de taillis, aucun ne contenait CHV-1 et seulement six contenaient CHV-3. CHV-4 qui existe naturellement dans les forêts en Virginie de l'ouest et dans deux des isolats appliqués, s'hybridait avec le dsRNA d'autres isolats contenant CHV-3, ce qui indique des infections mixtes. CHV-4 s'hybridait aussi avec le dsRNA d'autres isolats recueillis dans ou au dehors des placettes traitées. Contrairement à CHV1 et à CHV-3, CHV-4 a cependant peu d'effet sur la croissance et le phénotype de C. parasitica. La persistance limitée de CHV-1 et de CHV-3 peut avoir résulté de la réduction de la population de C. parasitica par un manque de rejets de châtaigniers dûà la compétition avec les autres espèces de feuillus. Zusammenfassung Währenddem der Einsatz von Cryphonectria Hypoviren zur biologischen Bekämpfung des Kastanienrindenkrebses in Europa relativ erfolgreich war, stimmt dies in Nordamerika nur begrenzt. In West-Virginia wurden in den Jahren 1978,82 Hypoviren in Experimenten an zwei Waldstandorten mit hoher Dichte regenerierender Edelkastanien freigesetzt. Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) von Europa und amerikanische Isolate von Cryphonectria parasitica, die CHV-3 enthielten, wurden für diese Freisetzungsversuche verwendet. Obschon die meisten Bäume während der fünfjährigen Freisetzungsperiode abstarben, war unklar, ob die Hypoviren in der C. parasitica Population überlebten. Als die Versuchsflächen im Jahre 1994 erneut aufgesucht wurden, konnten nur noch wenige Edelkastanien gefunden werden mit Ausnahme einer Fläche, auf der die Wurzelanläufe ursprünglicher Bäume Stockausschläge trugen. Zahlreiche C. parasitica Stämme wurden von den Versuchsflächen gewonnen und auf Besiedlung mit dsRNA untersucht. Keines der Isolate enthielt CHV-1; nur sechs Isolate, welche alle von der Fläche mit den Stockausschlägen stammten, enthielten CHV-3. CHV-4, das natürlich in den Wäldern West-Viriginias vorkommt und in zwei der freigesetzten Isolate vorhanden war, hybridisierte mit dsRNA aus den Isolaten, die CHV-3 enthielten, was auf eine Mischinfektion hindeutet. CHV-4 hybridisierte auch mit dsRNA aus anderen Isolaten, die innerhalb und ausserhalb der behandelten Versuchsflächen gesammelt wurden. Im Gegensatz zu CHV-1 und CHV-3 war der Einfluss von CHV-4 auf den Phänotyp von C. parasitica gering. Die begrenzte Persistenz von CHV-1 und CHV-3 wird möglicherweise durch die Abnahme der C. parasitica Population als Folge des Ausbleibens der Regeneration der Edelkastanie bedingt. Erschwerend für die Edelkastanien dürfte sich zudem die Konkurrenz mit anderen Laubhölzern auswirken. [source]

Cryphonectria parasitica vegetative compatibility type analysis of populations in south-western France and northern Spain

PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
C. Robin
A comprehensive study of the population biology of Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight, is required to understand the spread of the epidemic in Europe and its natural regulation by the Cryphonectria hypovirus-1 (CHV-1). With this objective in mind, the diversity in vegetative compatibility (vc) types and mating types of C. parasitica populations was assessed in 43 chestnut sites in western France and northern Spain. Isolates were sampled in three regions along the Pyrénées mountains (Hautes Pyrénées, Pyrénées Atlantiques and Navarra) and in two regions north of the Pyrénées (Landes and Dordogne). There were 61 vc types observed in 682 isolates sampled. Ninety-five isolates (14%) could not be assigned to any one of the previously known European vc types. The finding of 47 incompatible vc types confirmed that the genetics of vegetative compatibility could not be totally accounted for by six diallelic vic genes. The two idiomorphs of the mating type gene were detected in all regions, indicating that sexual reproduction could occur within and between vc types. In all regions except Dordogne, C. parasitica populations were dominated either by the vc type EU-66 or EU-72. Neither vc type has been reported elsewhere in Europe, which suggests that two different introductions of C. parasitica have occurred in the study area. In Dordogne, populations were dominated by EU-33 and EU-2, and to a lesser extent EU-66 and EU-72. The low diversity in vc types for most of the C. parasitica populations provides good opportunities for natural regulation in forest coppices and for biocontrol with CHV-1 in orchards. [source]