Colonization and lignin decomposition of pine needle litter by Lophodermium pinastri

The colonization and lignin decomposition of pine (Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora) needle litter by an endophytic fungus, Lophodermium pinastri, was examined with field observations, a field experiment and laboratory experiments. In pine needles collected from the field, needle mass per length and lignin content were lower in needle portions bearing Lophodermium fruiting bodies than in the remaining needle portions, whereas total carbohydrate content was not different between them. Total and live hyphal lengths were greater in needle portions bearing Lophodermium fruiting bodies than in the remaining needle portions. Lophodermium fruiting bodies were not formed on sterilized needles after a 6‐month incubation on the forest floor, whereas they formed on 20% of non‐sterilized needles, indicating that this fungus can only colonize live needles on the branch. In pure culture decomposition tests, mass loss of lignin was detected for several isolates of L. pinastri, but was variable among isolates and between the needles of two pine species. A comparison of the rDNA‐internal transcribed spacer sequences between L. pinastri isolates of P. thunbergii and P. densiflora indicated that the two groups were phylogenetically separated. This study is the first to show that L. pinastri has the ability to decompose lignin in dead pine needles.     

Identification of Lophodermium seditiosum and L. pinastri in Swedish forest nurseries using species‐specific PCR primers from the ribosomal ITS region

Lophodermium seditiosum is a serious needle pathogen on pine, particularly in nurseries, and there is a need to detect the pathogen during its latent phase. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA of L. seditiosum and L. pinastri were amplified with universal primers and sequenced. Sequence comparisons of the two species allowed the design of species‐specific primers for the ITS regions. The primers were between 18 and 24 bp long with a minimum of 3 bp differences between the species. These primer pairs did not give any amplification of DNA from any other of the examined fungal species or from healthy Pinus sylvestris needles. It was also possible to identify either L. seditiosum or L. pinastri in infected needles with and without signs of infection using these primer pairs. The method was found to be very useful for detection of latent infections of L. seditiosum in P. sylvestris needles in nurseries.     

Needle blight of pine caused by two species of Dothistroma in Hungary

Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini cause the serious pine needle disease, Dothistroma needle blight (DNB). Of these, D. septosporum has a global distribution, while D. pini is known only from the USA, Russia, Ukraine and France. During a study of D. septosporum isolates from Pinus nigra in Hungary, microsatellite markers revealed the presence of a second Dothistroma species. The aim of this study was to identify the DNB pathogens occurring in Hungary using four different molecular techniques. These included sequencing of the rDNA ITS region, a species‐specific ITS‐RFLP, mating type primers and a diagnostic microsatellite marker, Doth_A. Results showed that both D. septosporum and D. pini occur in Hungary and that both DNB pathogens were present on the same trees and in some cases, the same needles. Mating types MAT1 and MAT2 of D. septosporum were shown to be present in Hungary, but only the MAT2 of D. pini was found. In addition, examination of needles with DNB symptoms from Russia revealed the presence of D. pini on Pinus pallasiana and P. nigra as well as on a new host, Pinus mugo. The molecular markers applied in this study were sufficiently robust to identify and differentiate between the two DNB pathogens, both in culture and directly from needles. They will consequently be useful to document the geographical range and to monitor the spread of D. septosporum and D. pini in future studies.     

Sources of inoculum of Lophodermium seditiosum on Pinus sylvestris1

A survey of the incidence of Lophodermium seditiosum, L. pinastri and L. conigenum in plantations of Pinus sylvestris in north-east Scotland showed that L. seditiosum predominated on fallen cones and on young needles which tell prematurely in early summer. L. pinastri predominated on old senescent needles which fell in autumn. The incidence of L. conigenum was low on fallen cones and needles and it is not thought that tins species could effectively replace L. seditiosum. It is concluded that the main source of L. seditiosum inoculum for infections in plantations and nearby nurseries is young infected fallen needles on which ascocarps form in late summer and autumn.     

Potential use of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy for pine species discrimination by examination of needles

The correct identification of pine species is necessary for proper application of wood in forest?based industries, since the quality of each species’ wood depends on factors intrinsic to the material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of near?infrared and visible spectroscopy in the discrimination of pine species planted in southern Brazil. Needles of Pinus clausa, P. glabra, P. kesiya, P. oocarpa, P. palustris, P. pseudostrobus, P. rigida, P. roxburghii and P. serotina were collected from experimental plantations located in the region of Rio Negro, Paraná, Brazil. The needles were dried and milled for analysis. The evaluation was performed with a spectral range of 400–750?nm (visible) and 1 000–2 500?nm (near?infrared). Analysis using the visible spectra resulted in two principal components explaining 95% of the variation between the needle samples. In the near?infrared analysis, it was possible to discriminate between all nine pine species studied using only two principal components, where the first explained 99% of the variation between species. Spectroscopy based on needles can be used for pine species discrimination, using the original data without mathematical treatment, in southern Brazil.     

Artificial inoculation and susceptibility of Pinus armandii to Dothistroma septosporum

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious needle disease of conifers that primarily affects pine species (Pinus spp.). Dothistroma septosporum is one of the DNB pathogens that has a diverse range of host species excluding Pinus armandii. In 15 inoculated P. armandii seedlings, D. septosporum acervuli were observed in 43 infected needles of ten seedlings with a mean disease severity of 1.11% at 25 weeks after inoculations, demonstrating the potential of D. septosporum to cause symptoms on the needles of P. armandii via artificial inoculation. The disease severity of P. armandii was similar to the positive control, Pinus nigra (median 0.75 for P. armandii to 0.70 for P. nigra), thus, P. armandii acts under artificial conditions as a susceptible host species.     

Experimentelle Infizierung einiger anБereuropäischerPinus-Arten durch die KiefernnadelgallmückeThecodiplosis brachyntera (Schwägr.)(Diptera,Cecidomyiidae)

Zusammenfassung Die KiefernnadelgallmückeThecodiplosis brachyntera (Schwägr.), die in Europa anPinus sylvestris L.,P. mugo Turra undP. nigra Arnold lebt, wurde im Arboretum Bolevec in Westböhmen auch an der nordamerikanischen KiefernartPinus resinosa Aiton und den ostasiatischen KiefernartenPinus tabuliformis Carriere undP. yunnanensis Franchet festgestellt.Experimentell gelang es durch die Kiefernnadelgallmücke vonPinus mugo subsp.mughus (Scop.) Domin, auch die obengenannten außereuropäischen Kiefernarten und als Kontrolle die europäischen ArtenPinus sylvestris L. undPinus mugo subsp.uncinata (Ant.) Domin zu infizieren. Experimentelle Infizierung war erfolglos an den Kiefernarten:Pinus cembra subsp.alpina (Rikli),P. strobus L.,P. rigida Miller,P. radiata D. Don.,P. echinata Miller,P. contorta Douglas undP. thunbergii Parlatore.Die Ursache der Nichtinfizierung der untersuchten Kiefernarten kann folgenden Ursprung haben: Unterschiede in dem Chemismus, besonders in der Qualität und Quantität der Terpene im Innern der Nadeln, oder: Unterschiede in der Gestalt der Nadeln, besonders die Nichtanwesenheit der Nadelscheide, die den Basalteil der Nadeln umhüllt und deshalb die Entwicklung der Eier und Larven nicht ermöglicht, oder aber: es waren morphologisch die Nadeln in der Zeit der Infizierung für die Eiablage nicht geeignet — entweder noch mit Schutzschuppen bedeckt, oder schon zu groß entwickelt.Die befallenen Nadeln der außereuropäischen Arten waren verkürzt, in dem Basalteile grö ßtenteils einige mm zusammengewachsen. Die Lavalkammer befand sich in der Mehrzahl der Fälle in der Nadelbasis.Nach den gewonnenen Ergebnissen erscheint es notwendig, eine taxonomische Revision der 5 von 11 nordamerikanischen Kiefernarten beschriebenen Gallmückenarten durchzuführen.

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Summary The Needle shortening gall midgeThecodiplosis brachyntera (Schwägr.) occurring in Europe on the pinesPinus sylvestris L.,P. mugo Turra andP. nigra Arnold was found in an Arboretum in Bolevec in Western Bohemia on the North American speciesP. resinosa Aiton and on the East Asian speciesP. tabuliformis Carriere andP. yunnanensis Franchet.The following non-European species:Pinus resinosa Aiton,P. tabuliformis Carriere andP. yunnanensis Franchet and European species:P. sylvestris L. andP. mugo subsp.uncinata (Ant.) Domin were experimentally infested withThecodiplosis brachyntera (Schwägr.) fromPinus mugo subsp.mughus (Scop.) Domin. The experimental infestation was not successful in the case ofPinus cembra subsp.alpina (Rikli),P. strobus L.,P. rigida Miller,P. radiata D. Don.,P. echinata Miller,P. contorta Douglas andP. thunbergii Parlatore.The failure to infest some pine species might have three causes: the chemical compositions of the pine needles differed; the sheath shielding the basal part of brachyblast was missing; the needles of some pine species were not in the right state for oviposition and development of larvae at the time of infestation — they were either too mature or completely covered with scales.Infested needles of the non-European species were considerably shortened compared with non-infested ones. Their basal part usually coalesced for several mm and in most cases the larval chamber was situated right in the base of the needle.Results mentioned above showed the necessity of revision of the taxonomic position of 5 gall midge species developing in the bases of 11 North-American pine species.

     

First report of Lecanosticta acicola on non‐native Pinus mugo in southern Sweden

In 2017, severe symptoms of brown spot needle blight, similar to those caused by Lecanosticta acicola, were observed on needles of non‐native Pinus mugo var. Hesse planted in an arboretum in southern Sweden. Microscopic characterization and molecular diagnostics of isolates obtained from diseased needles confirmed the identity of L. acicola. This is the first report of the quarantine pathogen L. acicola in Sweden. Subsequent surveys are urgently needed to assess the presence and extent of the L. acicola invasion in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.     

Responses of Pinus massoniana and Pinus taeda to freezing in temperate forests in central China

Abstract

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), a native species widely distributed in temperate forests in central China, and Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), an exotic tree species introduced to China from southeastern United States, are dominant evergreen conifers that play a pivotal role in maintaining forest structure and functions for the region. We examined the effects of freezing on these species with chlorophyll fluorescence and electrolyte leakage using both field- and laboratory-based experiments in September 2009 and January 2010, respectively. We found that freezing could cause a greater impact on the Loblolly pine than the Masson pine. Although the two species showed similar values of F _v /F _m and electrolyte leakage before freezing, the Masson pine needles showed lower F _v /F _m and higher electrolyte leakage ratios than those of the Loblolly pine when treated in low temperatures (?15 to 0°C). We also found that cold-acclimation was crucial for both species to adapt to low temperatures with the F _v /F _m ratio decreased approximately by 80% in the first freezing hour for the non-acclimated needles of both species while the cold-acclimated needles showed little changes in the F _v /F _m ratio. This finding is also supported by our measurements of electrolyte leakage. These results suggest that the Loblolly pine could be more susceptible to freezing damages than the Masson pine in central China.     

One-hundred-year foliage comparison of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus sylvestris under dry growing conditions in Brandenburg,Germany

Abstract

The dynamics of six different needle parameters of Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws. were examined retrospectively for a 112-year-old mixed stand in Brandenburg, Germany, using the needle trace method. Similarities were found in needle production, needle loss and needle density. However, needle age, needle retention and total number of needles revealed significant differences between the tree species, with higher values for P. ponderosa. Pinus ponderosa yielded approximately twice as much mean whole-crown needle dry mass as P. sylvestris. Furthermore, different branching systems could be detected between the species, with both pines following “Corner's rule”. The results suggest that under identical growing conditions, P. ponderosa exhibits more efficient water use and can therefore maintain a bigger crown (as the basis for increased growth) than P. sylvestris.     

Selection of feeding trees by capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in winter

Selection of winter feeding trees by capercaillie Tetrao urogallus was studied by sampling of needles of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris trees browsed by capercaillie and closely situated unbrowsed trees in 5 localities situated in the southern half of Norway. Browsed trees contained higher concentrations of N than unbrowsed trees but no differences in P were found among browsed and unbrowsed samples. Needles eaten by capercaillie were significantly lower in resin content than needles from unbrowsed trees. For tannin, no differences between browsed and unbrowsed trees were found. Results give evidence that capercaillie select needles richest in N when the resin content is low, but when high, the birds select needles low in resin. Thus, both N and resin play an important role in selection of winter browse by capercaillie.     

First molecular detection of Lecanosticta acicola from Poland on Pinus mugo

The presence of quarantine pathogen Lecanosticta acicola, the causal agent of brown spot needle blight, was confirmed using molecular methods for the first time in northern part of Poland on the coastal area adjacent to the Baltic Sea. This area includes sandy beaches, where Pinus mugo and P. sylvestris were planted. Symptomatic needles were collected in 2017 from 20 P. mugo trees growing in one stand in Ustka. Typical symptoms of brown spot needle blight infection, including dead needle tips and central zones with yellow or reddish brown, circular spots in green tissue, were observed on all samples. Only, the asexual stage of L. acicola was obtained during this work. The pathogen species identity was confirmed using classical morphological methods (microscopic examination of the infected needles), real‐time and species‐specific priming (SSPP) PCR, and ITS sequencing. Analysis of mating‐type (MAT) genes showed the presence of both mating types in northern Poland.     

Das Vorhandensein von Nadeln an den Trieben der Gemeinen Kiefer,Pinus sylvestris L. als Indikator für den Grad des Umwelteinflusses

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Benadelung der verschieden alten Jahrestriebe vonPinus sylvestris an 288 Standorten in Böhmen und Mähren, CSFR, 1984 untersucht mit dem Ziel, den Grad der Einwirkung von Umweltfaktoren, insbesondere von Immissionen kennenzulernen. Die beste Benadelung wurde im mittleren Böhmen und in Südmähren mit i.M. 2,6 voll benadelter Jahrestriebe gefunden, während dieser Index vor etwa 40 Jahren noch 3,5 betrug. Die Untersuchungsflächen zeigten in Nordböhmen den geringsten Index mit 1,8 Jahren. Eine Stichporbe 1989 ergab, daß sich der Index in Südböhmen seit 1984 von 2,6 auf 1,8 abgesenkt hat.Eine Bewertung der Kondition von Kiefern unterschiedlicher Provenienz im Arboretum Sofronka bei Pilsen zeigte, daß mit Ausnahme von nordnorwegischen Herkünften alle Kiefern etwa die gleiche kondition wie jene in Westböhmen haben. Bezüglich anderer Kiefernarten wurden beiP. banksiani, P. contorta undP. cembra sehr hohe Indexwerte von 5–6 gefunden, währendP. rigida ein Minimum von nur 1,0 aufwies. Die 3 Kiefernarten mit hohen Indexwerten empfehlen sich somit zur Pflanzung an immissionsgefährdeten Standorten.

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The occurrence of needles on shoots of Scotch Pine,Pinus sylvestris L. as an indicator of state of environment

The numbers of annual shoots completely and partly covered be needles were counted on Scotch pines at 288 localities in Bohemia and Moravia (CSFR) with the object to evaluate the impact of adverse environmental factors, particularly immissions, onPinus sylvestris. The best state of environment has been found in Central Bohemia and South Moravian Region (2.6 annual shoots overgrown by needles compared to 3.5 in the past). This index was 2.4 in West Bohemian Region, 2.3 in South Bohemia, 2.1 in in East Bohemia, 2.0 in North Moravia, and 1.8 in North Bohemian Region. In 1989 the index in South Bohemia decreased from 2.6 to only 1.8 shoots covered with needles.Assessment of the condition of annual shoots ofP. sylvestris of different provenances in the arboretum Sofronka near Plze has shown that, with the exception of pines of North European origin, the pines are in the same condition as those in West Bohemia. Relatively high numbers of healthy annual shoots were found inPinus banksiana, P. contorta andP. cembra in the arboretum, but inP. rigida only the current year shoots had needles. The former three species would be suitable for planting at places particularly exposed to immissions.

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Mit 3 Abbildungen     

Symptoms in slash pine seedlings following inoculation with the cone rust fungus Cronartium strobilinum

Six‐week‐old seedlings of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) were inoculated with sporidia of Cronartium strobilinum, which is the cause of southern cone rust disease, by wounding the apical tips of the seedlings. Pycnial sori developed abundantly within 1 month of inoculation on the epicotyl and primary needles. The progress of the pathogen was confirmed histologically within the cells of the stem and haustoria were observed near the nucleus of the cells. In the needles, pycnial pustules developed and the fungus was abundant in the mesophyll.     

Chemical control of two Phytophthora species infecting the canopy of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata)

Twelve active ingredients were screened for their ability to control foliage disease caused by Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora pluvialis. Inhibition of mycelial growth and sporangial production of both pathogens were assessed in in vitro assays after exposure to three concentrations of each active ingredient. While most of these active ingredients inhibited mycelial growth in vitro, due to their widespread use, phosphite, copper oxychloride and metalaxyl‐M were selected for further study. Four rates of each active ingredient were applied to two Pinus radiata genotypes, and detached needle assays at 6 and 90 days post‐treatment were used to determine treatment efficacy and persistence. Untreated needles showed significantly larger lesions than all fungicide‐treated needles after exposure to P. pluvialis or P. kernoviae on both sampling dates. Efficacy and persistence of the three active ingredients did not increase with increase in concentration. Larger lesions were formed on more susceptible genotype after inoculation with both Phytophthora species, even when higher rates of active ingredients were applied. Phosphite, copper oxychloride and metalaxyl‐M have potential to protect commercially planted P. radiata from these two Phytophthora species.     

Lophodermium pinastri and an unknown species of Teratosphaeriaceae are associated with needle cast in a Pinus radiata selection trial

Spring needle cast (SNC) in Tasmania is defined by the early casting of pine needles and appears in 6‐ to 7‐year‐old pine plantations after canopy closure. The severity of SNC can vary significantly among trees growing within the same plantation. Fungal communities were surveyed in a Pinus radiata family trial, using DNA extraction from needles, PCR with fungal‐specific primers and sequencing to detect the presence of fungal species. Samples were taken at the same time as the trees were scored for disease severity. Trees with contrasting levels of SNC disease severity have significantly different needle fungal communities, but family pedigree and different ages of needle are not clearly distinguished by their fungal communities. All common fungal pathogens previously implicated in causing SNC were identified from the study, but of these, only Lophodermium pinastri was correlated with high levels of disease. Several species of Teratosphaeriaceae were detected, and one of these was also strongly associated with needle cast.     

Susceptibility of six pine species to Gremmeniella abietina isolates from Spain

Inoculation experiments were performed in order to evaluate the virulence of Gremmeniella abietina isolates from Spain on the main pine species planted in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the influence of seedling age on this virulence. Two different experiments were carried out with four isolates of G. abietina from Spain. The greenhouse experiments consisted of seedling inoculations. One‐ and 2‐year‐old seedlings of the following five pine species were used: Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris and Pinus uncinata; also, 1‐year‐old seedlings of P. nigra were inoculated. The relative necrosis length (RNL) caused by the pathogen after 130 days was used as a response variable. The laboratory experiments were performed on 2‐ to 6‐year‐old internodes of the above pine species excluding P. uncinata. The necrosis length after 6 weeks of incubation was measured. The results have shown that all G. abietina isolates were pathogens on seedlings of these six pine species and seedlings of P. halepensis were consistently the most susceptible ones, although it is important to take into account that all the isolates used in the present work were isolated from P. halepensis, the only pine species in Spain where G. abietina has been recovered up to now. The susceptibility of the other pine species depended on the age of the seedlings.     

Injury to Eastern White Pine by Sulfurdioxide and Ozone Alone and in Mixtures

Clones of eastera white pine (Pinus strobus) selected for their sensitivity to sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were fumigated in a controlled environment chamber. Sulfur dioxide alone and in combination with ozone (O₃) at concentration 5 parts per hundred million (pphm) of air by volume of each gas for independent 2-hr exposures was toxic to new needles. Severest injury resulted from a discontinuous fumigation with 5 pphm O₃ and 5 pphm SO₂for 2 hr in separate fumigations, followed 24 hr later by a 2-hr exposure to a mixture of these gases, each at 5 pphm. The rapidity of lesion development and total injury to new needles were less following a single 2-hr fumigation with an O₃-SO₂mixture than when a single 2-hr fumigation with SO₂alone was used. Ozone and SO₂reacted to reduce injury. These plants were not injured by O₃used alone. New needles receiving only filtered air or new needles on resistant plants were not visibly affected by any treatment. Acute injury induced by the O₃-SO₂mixture developed differently from injury induced by SO₂alone.     

Photosynthese,Transpiration und Spaltöffnungsverhalten verschiedener Holzarten nach Begasung mit SO2

Photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal response of various species of woody plants exposed to sulfur dioxide. Photosynthesis of Fraxinus excelsior, Piceaabies, Abies alba and Pinus sylvestris declined after 6 and 12 h of fumigation at SO₂ concentrations of 5 and 9mg m^?3. Transpiration also declined, but the maximum depression was only 38%. Stomata began to close after fumigation with ～ 1 mg SO₂m^?3 for 6 h. The diffusion resistance of needles of Pices and Abies increased after fumigation with 9 mg SO₂ for 6h to a peak value of 35–40 scm^?1 and decreased rapidly (Picea) or remained stable (Abies) during the following 30h.     

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needles in northern Finland

The superoxide dismutase (SOD EC 1.15.1.1) activity in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needles in urban and rural trees of northern Finnish populations was studied. Enzyme activity was higher in pine than in spruce needles. Two pine clones from eastern Finland and Lapland revealed great differences in specific SOD enzyme activity.