The culturable leaf mycobiome of Viscum album subsp. austriacum

In Poland's pine forests, mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) abundance has increased over the past 20 years. This mistletoe infestation has decreased the growth and vigour of Scots pine trees. In this study, we surveyed the culturable fungi from healthy and diseased V. album subsp. austriacum leaves from two stands in Poland. In total, 63 distinct species were identified, 99.8% of which belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. The community compositions of fungi in mistletoe leaves were similar in healthy and diseased leaves as Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botryosphaeria visci, Fusarium paeoniae and Microsphaeropsis olivacea were consistently found in leaves of all symptom types. The most frequently isolated fungus from asymptomatic leaves was M. olivacea, followed by A. alternata, A. pullulans and Hypoxylon rubiginosum. In comparison, the most frequently isolated fungi from leaves with rusty-brown necrotic spots were (in decreasing order) M. olivacea, B. visci, F. paeoniae and A. alternata, while the most frequently isolated fungi from leaves with black or dark brown spots were M. olivacea, A. alternata, A. pullulans, Epicoccum layuense and F. paeoniae. This study was the first comprehensive report showing that certain fungal species may be pathogens of V. album subsp. austriacum in Poland. This study was also the first report of F. paeoniae, F. juglandicola, Diaporthe vacuae and Heterotruncatella spartii from V. album, and the first report of D. vacuae and H. spartii in Poland.     

黄河小浪底库区山地栓皮栎人工林土壤呼吸的季节动态

[目的]分离并量化土壤自养呼吸和异养呼吸,探讨各自贡献率及其随季节变化的动态特征。[方法]采用壕沟法和气体红外分析法,研究黄河小浪底库区山地栓皮栎人工林土壤总呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸速率的季节动态变化、贡献率和环境影响因子。[结果]表明:栓皮栎人工林总土壤呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸均呈夏季速率高、冬季速率低。栓皮栎土壤总呼吸、自养呼吸及异养呼吸速率与5 cm土壤温度均呈极显著指数相关,温度敏感性系数Q_(10)值大小为自养呼吸(3.40)异养呼吸(2.90)土壤总呼吸(2.45);栓皮栎土壤总呼吸、自养呼吸、异养呼吸速率与0 10 cm土壤体积含水量均显著线性相关;土壤总呼吸、自养呼吸速率与0 10 cm土壤电导率显著相关。土壤总呼吸和异养呼吸的温度敏感系数Q_(10)值均在冬季最大,夏秋季最小;而自养呼吸的Q_(10)值则呈相反的变化趋势。栓皮栎人工林自养呼吸和异养呼吸对土壤总呼吸的月贡献率为13.23%37.33%和62.67%86.76%,且自养呼吸的贡献率与土壤温度的季节变化规律相似。土壤总呼吸、异养呼吸与自养呼吸的CO2年通量分别为1 616.41、1 199.39、417.02 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)。[结论]经过区分与定量化土壤总呼吸及其组分,确定异养呼吸为本研究区栓皮栎人工林土壤总呼吸的主要组分,作用于异养呼吸的生物与非生物因子均能显著影响整个森林生态系统表层CO_2总排放通量的大小,进一步为该研究区森林生态系统碳循环与能量流动的进一步量化研究提供参考。     

Decline‐associated Phaeoacremonium species occurring on forest trees in the north of Iran

Between 2013 and 2015, several surveys were conducted throughout forest areas in the north of Iran with the aim of isolating and identifying fungi present on trees showing decline symptoms. Fungal species, isolated from symptomatic wood tissues of various tree genera, including Zelkova, Acer, Parrotia, Quercus, Diospyros, Fagus, Fraxinus, Populus, Pinus, Pterocarya, Gleditsia, Carpinus, Ulmus, Crataegus, Alnus, Mespilus, Punica, Cydonia, Cupressus and Prunus, were morphologically identified and characterized. A molecular identification based on comparisons of DNA sequences of the β‐tubulin gene allowed us to identify seven species belonging to Phaeoacremonium; namely, Phaeoacremonium parasiticum, Pm. alvesii, Pm. minimum, Pm. iranianum, Pm. scolyti, Pm. fraxinopennsylvanicum and Pm. croatiense were isolated and identified. Phaeoacremonium minimum was the most common species and isolated from Gleditsia caspica, Parrotia persica, Cydonia oblonga and Alnus glutinosa. Pathogenicity on selected plants using a mycelium plug inoculation method revealed that most of these species are pathogenic to all the tested trees, with Pm. parasiticum and Pm. minimum being the most pathogenic species. According to host plant species and geographical distribution, the majority of Phaeoacremonium species found represent new records. This is also the first report of Pm. croatiense in Iran and outside Croatia.     

Effects of flooding on growth of seedlings of woody riparian species

The effects of flooding on growth of seedlings were compared over a 7-month period (April–November) among six different woody species: Aesculus turbinata, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Fraxinus platypoda, Pterocarya rhoifolia, Pterostyrax hispida, and Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata. Flooding reduced the shoot length of F. platypoda, P. rhoifolia, C. japonicum, P. hispida, and Q. mongolica var. grosseserrata seedlings but did not affect that of A. turbinata seedlings. Among control seedlings, shoot elongation occurred once in A. turbinata and twice in F. platypoda and Q. mongolica var. grosseserrata; the other species continued to grow from April to August. Among the flooded plants of all species, shoot elongation occurred only once at the beginning of the growing season. On August 25, flooding significantly reduced the number of developed leaves as compared with control plants except for A. turbinata. In the flooded plants except for F. platypoda, leaf fall began on June 30; in controls, by contrast, the number of developed leaves increased until August 25. Flooding reduced the total dry weight increment in all species. The survival ratio of flooded plants after the experiment differed with species. All of the F. platypoda and A. turbinata seedlings survived the flooding treatment, while only 20% of P. hispida and 30% of Q. mongolica var. grosseserrata survived. Flooding seriously affected the growth of riparian pioneer species including P. rhoifolia, C. japonicum, P. hispida, and Q. mongolica var. grosseserrata. The effects of flooding on growth of the seedlings differed with the tree species because of differences in leaf-emergence pattern and physiological flood tolerance. The responses of tree seedlings to flooding reflected species habitats and growth patterns.     

Differences in leafminer (Phyllonorycter, Gracillariidae, Lepidoptera) and aphid (Tuberculatus, Aphididae, Hemiptera) composition among Quercusdentata, Q. crispula, Q. serrata, and their hybrids

Leafminer (Phyllonorycter, Gracillariidae, Lepidoptera) and aphid (Tuberculatus, Aphididae, Hemiptera) composition were studied in three deciduous oak species, Quercus dentata, Q. crispula, and Q. serrata, and their hybrids in Tomakomai Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Identification of trees in this forest was done mainly on the basis of discriminant analysis on leaf morphology with reference to trees in pure Q. dentata and Q. crispula stands and a Q. serrata stand mixed with Q. crispula. The results suggested that hybridization occurred in all combinations (i.e. Q. dentata–Q. crispula, Q. crispula–Q. serrata, and Q. serrata–Q. dentata) and the frequency of hybrids was approximately 10%. The composition of Phyllonorycter and Tuberculatus species differed between Q. dentata and Q. crispula or Q. serrata, but did not differ between Q. crispula and Q. serrata. Thus, Q. dentata could differ from Q. crispula and Q. serrata in chemical properties that determine herbivore host selection, survival, and performance, possibly reflecting eco-physiological differences or phylogenetic distances. The study insects were divided into three groups: species specialized to Q. dentata (three Phyllonorycter and one Tuberculatus species), those to Q. crispula and Q. serrata (six Phyllonorycter and two Tuberculatus species), and a species collected at least from Q. dentata and Q. crispula (one Tuberculatus species). Putative hybrid trees of Q. dentata and Q. crispula harbored both Q. dentata-specific and Q. crispula-specific insects.     

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.     

Phacidium infestans

Phacidium injestans P. Karsten sensu lato may be divided into two varieties: the Eurasian Ph. infestans var. infestans and the American-Japanese variety Ph. infestans var. abietis Dearness. Ph. infestans var. infestans includes a northern and a southern group, both fruiting on two- and five-needled pines, the northern also very seldom fruiting on Abies and Juniperus. Disease caused by the fungus, diaspores, resistance of the hosts, influence of snow cover and of ground vegetation, and control are dealt with in detail for the northern group. Ph. infestans var. abietis includes two formac speciales: the North American Ph. infestans var. abietis f. sp. abietis on Abies and Pseudotsuga, and the Japanese Ph. infestans var. abietis f. sp. piceae on Abies, Picea, and pinus.     

Influence of five host plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis gossypii</Emphasis> Glover on some population parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippodamia variegata</Emphasis> (Goeze)

The aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), is an important predator in many agricultural ecosystems. However, information on the influence of the prey’s host plant species on its life history characteristics is still absent in the literature. Therefore, five host plant species of Aphis gossypii Glover, viz. Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita pepo var. medullosa L., Cucurbita moschata var. melonaeformis Poiret, Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis L. and Lagenaria siceraria var. gourda Standl., were selected to study the influence of the prey’s host plant species on the development, survival, reproduction and life table parameters of H. variegata in the laboratory at 25°C. The results showed that all of A. gossypii from five host plant species used were acceptable for the growth, development and reproduction of H. variegata. However, the suitability of aphids from various host plants was different for this ladybird beetle. The complete pre-imaginal development was longest (14.51 ± 0.17 days) when reared with aphids on C. melo var. cantalupensis and shortest (12.60 ± 0.11 days) on L. siceraria var. gourda. Total immature survival from egg to adult was highest (58.97%) on L. siceraria var. gourda and lowest (44.06%) on C. melo var. cantalupensis. Based on the intrinsic rate of increase as an index of suitability of prey host plant species on the population increase of H. variegata, the suitability in decreasing order was: L. siceraria var. gourda > C. moschata var. melonaeformis > C. pepo var. medullosa > C. melo var. cantalupensis > C. sativus. This study offered opportunities for better understanding the tritrophic interactions of the plant–aphid–predator relationship.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophiostoma</Emphasis> species associated with bark beetles infesting three <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis> species in Nikko,Japan

Ophiostoma species were isolated from bark beetles and Abies mariesii, A. veitchii and A. homolepis attacked by the beetles in Nikko, Tochigi, central Honshu, Japan. One to two Ophiostoma species were frequently isolated from each species of bark beetle. Ophiostoma subalpinum was the most common associate of Cryphalus montanus. Ophiostoma sp. B as well as O. subalpinum was a common fungus associated with Polygraphus proximus. Ophiostoma europhioides was isolated from Dryocoetes hectographus and D. autographus as one of the common associates. Ophiostoma sp. J and Ophiostoma sp. S were frequently isolated from D. autographus and D. striatus, respectively. These fungi seem to have specific relationships with particular bark beetles. Ophiostoma sp. B, Ophiostoma sp. J and Ophiostoma sp. S have unique morphological characteristics and appear to be new species. Five trees of A. veitchii, approximately 43 years old, were inoculated with five Ophiostoma species to assess the relative virulence of the fungi. Ophiostoma subalpinum, Ophiostoma sp. B, and O. europhioides had relatively higher virulence than the other species studied.     

Growth analysis of the competition–density effect in non-self-thinning Populus deltoides and Populus?×?euramericana plantations

The competition–density (C–D) effect for non-self-thinning Populus deltoides and Populus × euramericana plantations from 3 to 9 years was analyzed using the reciprocal equation of the C–D effect. The C–D effect was well described by the reciprocal equation, and with the progress of time the C–D curve, on logarithmic coordinates, of the P. × euramericana plantations shifted upward faster than that of the P. deltoides plantations. With increasing physical time t, the biological time τ, i.e. the integral from zero to t of the coefficient of growth λ(t) in the general logistic curve with respect to t, increased rapidly during early growth stages and the increases in τ gradually became slow during later growth stages. This trend was more evident in the P. deltoides plantations than in the P. × euramericana plantations. The coefficients A and B included in the reciprocal equation were calculated at each growth stage. With increasing τ, the coefficient A, the reciprocal of which means the asymptote of yield (=wρ) at a given growth stage, increased abruptly to a maximum value and then tended to decrease gradually to a constant level. On the other hand, the coefficient B, the reciprocal of which means the asymptote of mean stem volume at a given growth stage, decreased exponentially and tended to be close to zero with increasing τ. The λ(t) decreased with increasing stand age, whereas the final yield Y(t) defined as W(t) ρ, where W(t) is the asymptote of w in the general logistic growth curve, increased gradually with increasing stand age. The differences in coefficients A, B, and λ(t) between the two species were reported.     

Potential of clones in improving the financial benefits of essential oil production from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melaleuca alternifolia</Emphasis> plantations

Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a woody plant that produces an essential oil with antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties and is widely formulated into many products. Yield and financial analyses were done to compare the viability of replanting 20 ha tea tree plantations using elite clones and improved seedlings over a 15 year time frame were carried out. Four plantation options were modelled: (1) plantations established using genetically improved seedlings (ATTIA 2B) planted at a stocking of 33,333 plants/ha and (2) 16,667 plants/ha, (3) plantations established using the best three selected clones planted at a stocking of 33,333 plants/ha and (4) 16,667 plants/ha. Financial analysis showed that, at an oil price of $45/kg (as at Sep 2008), replacement plantations of either elite clones or improved seedlings are both highly profitable irrespective of the stocking employed. The Net Present Values per hectare at 7% discount rate was $45/kg (as at Sep 2008), replacement plantations of either elite clones or improved seedlings are both highly profitable irrespective of the stocking employed. The Net Present Values per hectare at 7% discount rate was 107,824, 63,640,63,640, 163,162 and 104,055 for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Plantation option 3 was predicted to give the greatest profit at any of the oil prices tested, followed by plantation option 1, 4 and 2. The break-even prices for tea tree oil production, using the production parameters in this model were104,055 for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Plantation option 3 was predicted to give the greatest profit at any of the oil prices tested, followed by plantation option 1, 4 and 2. The break-even prices for tea tree oil production, using the production parameters in this model were 11.81/kg, 15.19/kg,15.19/kg, 10.72/kg and $12.96/kg for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.     

Ecology of Armillaria species on conifers in Japan

Distribution, host preference and pathogenicity of Japanese Armillaria species on conifers were investigated on the basis of field collections of 65 isolates. We identified seven Armillaria species from 19 conifer species including six major Japanese plantation conifers using mating tests and sequences of the translation elongation‐1 α gene. Armillaria mellea, Armillaria ostoyae, Armillaria cepistipes and Armillaria sinapina were frequently collected, whereas Armillaria nabsnona, Armillaria tabescens and a biological species Nagasawa’s E were rare. On the basis of host condition when the isolates were collected, A. mellea, A. ostoyae, A. cepistipes and A. tabescens are considered as moderate to aggressive pathogens of conifers in Japan.     

晚霜冻害对黄土区苹果树水分利用能力的影响

[目的]通过对比研究,明确晚霜冻害对苹果树生长季水分利用能力影响的程度与机理。[方法]利用热扩散技术(TDP)对黄土区苹果树未发生霜冻年和霜冻年主要生长季边材液流速率(J_s)开展连续监测,并同步观测净辐射(R_n)、气温(T_a)等气象因子,计算大气水分亏缺(VPD)等变量。通过对比、相关分析阐明晚霜冻害对苹果树水分利用能力的影响。[结果]霜冻发生后,当日午间液流速率最大值(J_(s-max))比霜冻前数日内的最大值降低9%～27%,苹果树水分利用能力(J_(s-max)/VPD)在霜冻后的数日内连续下降。霜冻后当年(2018)生长季平均液流速率比未发生霜冻年(2017)同期下降35%。在整个生长季内,液流速率日平均值(J_(s-mean))与R_n、VPD均具有显著的指数关系,但在相同的R_n或VPD水平下,霜冻年的J_(s-mean)显著低于未发生霜冻年。[结论]严重低温霜冻和霜冻后快速升温共同导致了苹果树生长季水分利用能力的显著下降。研究结果为认识霜冻对苹果树水分生理的影响机制提供了理论支撑。     

Effects of light radiation intensity on photosynthetic characteristics and water use efficiency of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis seedlings

In order to offer a scientific basis for cultivation and management of forests, effects of light radiation intensity on photosynthetic characteristics and water use efficiency of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis were studied under different soil moisture contents. By adopting artificial control methods to soil moisture, and under simulated photosynthetic radiation (SPR), the net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (T _r), water use efficiency (WUE) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis in the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, were studied. Results are as follows: within the photon range of 0–2,200 μmol/(m²·s), P _N, T _r and WUE were enhanced with an increase in SPR in both species. P _N and WUE of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, however, declined with continued increase in SPR. P _N, T _r, WUE and light saturation point (LSP) of Platycladus orientalis were higher than those of Pinus tabulaeformis, while light compensation point (LCP) of Platycladus orientalis was lower than that of Pinus tabulaeformis at the same soil moisture content. The efficiency of light energy utilization of Platycladus orientalis was higher than that of Pinus tabulaeformis; P _N, T _r and C _i of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis were enhanced by increasing soil moisture content, whereas WUE declined. At soil moistures of 7.90%, 13.00% and 19.99%, LSP of Platycladus orientalis was 1,275, 1,450 and 1,675 μmol/(m²·s) respectively, and LCP was 42, 25 and 13 μmol/(m²·s) respectively, with corresponding maximal net CO₂ photosynthetic rates (P _max) of 3.04, 4.06 and 5.53 μmol/(m²·s). At soil moistures of 7.83%, 13.04% and 20.15%, the LSP of Pinus tabulaeformis was 1,100, 1,325 and 1,500 μmol/(m²·s) respectively, and LCP was 60, 30 and 23 μmol/(m²·s), with P _max of 1.08, 3.35 and 4.36 μmol/(m²·s) respectively. __________ Translated from Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 2006, 4(3): 108–113 [译自: 中国水土保持科学]     

Association of seed‐borne Fusarium species on Pinus ponderosa with germination and seedling viability in Argentina

Pinus ponderosa seedlots from eight seed orchards in Western Patagonia, Argentina, were evaluated for the presence of Fusarium species, and isolates obtained were subjected to pathogenicity tests. The following species were isolated: Fusariumoxysporum, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium proliferatum. With the exception of F. proliferatum and F. graminearum all Fusarium species were recovered from P. ponderosa seedlings with symptoms of damping‐off. Five Fusarium species were re‐isolated from necrotic roots of seedlings showing chlorosis (F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. acuminatum and F. verticillioides). High damping‐off losses occurred in Fusarium‐contaminated seed of P. ponderosa and low disease incidence occurred on less contaminated seed. The role of seed‐borne inoculum in disease spread within forest nurseries is discussed.     

PCR‐based identification of Erysiphe pulchra and Phyllactinia guttata from Cornus florida using ITS‐specific primers

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA and the intervening 5.8S rRNA gene for the powdery mildew fungi Erysiphe (sect. Microsphaera) pulchra and Phyllactinia guttata were amplified using standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols and the universal primer pairs, ITS₁ and ITS₄. PCR products for ITS were analysed by electrophoresis in a 1.5% agarose gel and sequenced. The size of the amplified ITS products (approximately 650 bp) were not sufficiently different to allow reliable differentiation of E. pulchra and P. guttata; however, their sequences were distinct. Specific primers for E. pulchra and P. guttata were developed and evaluated for use as diagnostic tools. The diagnostic band size from E. pulchra‐specific primer pair was 568 bp while the P. guttata band was 597 bp; the two primer pairs were highly specific to E. pulchra and P. guttata. Comparison of ITS sequences with information in the GenBank showed a very close similarity between sequences of E. pulchra isolates from Cornus florida in the USA and isolates collected on Cornus kousa in Japan. BLAST analysis of the sequence of the 650‐bp band from P. guttata revealed a close alignment with sequences of P. moricola (92%), P. kakicola (94%), and P. fraxini (92%). The sequence of P. guttata in C. florida also had a 98% identity with P. guttata in Calycanthus occidentalis and 94% identity with P. guttata in Corylus cornuta.     

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.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Japanese Armillaria based on the intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences of their ribosomal DNA

To determine the phylogenetic positions of two new species, Armillaria jezoensis and Armillaria singula, and one new subspecies, Armillaria mellea suhsp. nipponica, the nucleotide sequences of the intergenic spacers (IGS) of their ribosomal DNA were investigated, and compared with those of tour other Armillaria species from Japan, and those of nine Armillaria species from Europe and North America. We conclude that Armillaria jezoensis, and Armillaria singula belong to the Armillaria gallica cluster as Armillaria cepistipes, Armillaria gallica and Armillaria sinapina from Japan. Two isolates of Armillaria ostoyae from Japan were placed within the Armillaria ostoyae cluster. Armillaria mellea subsp. nipponica had an IGS sequence as long as the IGS of Armillaria mellea from Europe and North America. However, the IGS sequences of Armillaria mellea subsp. nipponica, whose basidium base lacks a clamp connection could not be satisfactorily aligned with the IGS sequences of other species possessing this morphological feature.     

Cronartium flaccidum fruitbody production on Melampyrum spp. and some important alternate hosts to pine

Four Vincetoxicum species, Paeonia anomala and Melampyrum sylvaticum known to act as alternate hosts for Cronartium flaccidum, and a potential host Melampyrum pratense were inoculated either in vitro or in vivo with various aeciospore sources of C. flaccidum. All fresh C. flaccidum aeciospore sources variably produced uredia or telia on Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, Vincetoxicum mongolicum, Vincetoxicum fuscatum, Vincetoxicum nigrum, P. anomala, nine geographic provenances of M. sylvaticum, and two provenances of M. pratense. This is the first time that C. flaccidum telia were artificially produced on M. sylvaticum and the first time that M. pratense was shown to act as alternate host for C. flaccidum. The results suggest that M. sylvaticum is relatively susceptible to C. flaccidum, whereas M. pratense is almost resistant to this rust. The low host-specificity of the Finnish population of C. flaccidum was demonstrated, as V. hirundinaria from Italy was susceptible to the rust.     

Pathogenicity of three Phytophthora spp. causing late seedling rot of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota

Within a research project on quality of plants for forestation of agricultural lands, we studied the aetiology of a late seedling rot affecting holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota) in two forest nurseries in southern Spain. Major disease symptoms were foliage wilting and necrosis of feeder roots. Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora cryptogea and Phytophthora drechsleri were isolated from necrotic roots of holm oaks. Selected isolates of the three Phytophthora species were pathogenic to Quercus ilex ssp. ballota and Quercus suber seedlings in artificial inoculations. Soil flooding conditions were essential for infection and root rot development. There was no host specificity among the species, the isolates of P. cinnamomi being the most virulent in all inoculated plants. In these inoculations, Q. ilex ssp. ballota plants were more susceptible than those of Q. suber. This work is the first report of P. cinnamomi, P. drechsleri and P. cryptogea affecting Q. ilex ssp. ballota in forest nurseries.