The biology of Lophodermella conjuncta Darker on Corsican pine needles

The biology of Lophodermella conjuncta on Corsican pine needles was studied. Results of a spore exclusion experiment and histological examination of needles indicated that infection of young current years needles occurred and that the fungus first colonized only the endodermis. Infection remained latent until symptoms developed, from hyphae penetrating the mesophyll from the endodermis, in July of the year following infection. Ascocarps were produced on second year needles by mid-August. Aseospores were trapped throughout the year.Infected needles were cast prematurely during the third season. The phenomenon of latent infection of pine needles by some pine needle fungi is discussed.     

Presence of fungi in Scots pine needles found to correlate with air quality as measured by bioindicators in northern Spain

Atmospheric pollution has increased worldwide during the last decades affecting forest ecosystems. Thermal power plants give off high levels of contaminants, which can damage forest health. Bioindicators can be helpful tools used for evaluating environment changes by giving an accurate measure of the extent of pollution. The focus of this study was to analyse fungal mycoflora in Pinus sylvestris stands near a thermal power plant and the possible correlation between the presence of the fungi and the air quality as measured by lichens and mosses. Fungi associated with pine needles were selected as subjects of this study because of their phytopathological importance and association with the pine trees' decline. Samples for this study were selected from eight plots in close proximity to a thermal power station in northern Spain. Symptoms of decline were previously observed in all the plots before sampling was performed. Lichens were used as bioindicators of environmental quality in two ways, first using the Index of Atmospheric Purity and second through categorization of lichen species based on their sensitivity. In addition, botanical quality was measured regarding the presence or absence of mosses. With two seasonal samplings (autumn and spring) and the use of four types of pine needle plant material (green needles, dried needles, half–green, half‐dried needles and fallen needles), both endophytes and epiphytes present in the needles were isolated and observed. Thirty fungal species in total were identified of the 1095 isolates obtained. Furthermore, significant differences in fungal isolates were observed between seasons and among the different plant material. Results showed that both environmental air quality and botanical quality were negatively correlated with the relative isolation frequency of fungi. The higher number of isolates was attributed to a possible infection produced by fungi, which could be a leading factor in the trees' decline.     

油松毛虫产卵、取食偏嗜行为及油松针叶内含物测定

[目的]为明确油松毛虫在油松上的产卵和取食部位以及可能机理,为未来害虫发生预测模拟提供基础信息数据。[方法]通过室内模拟试验,统计油松毛虫在盆栽油松幼苗不同部位上的产卵量和取食不同油松针叶的偏嗜情况及死亡率;测定油松针叶内含物含量并与油松毛虫偏嗜行为进行了相关性分析。[结果]在一年生油松针叶上平均产卵块数最多(3.10±0.28),显著高于二年生针叶和三年生针叶;取食一年生油松针叶的油松毛虫数量最多(13.40±0.91)、死亡率最低(13.60%±4.87%),显著优于取食二年生油松针叶和三年生油松针叶的幼虫。油松毛虫幼虫取食选择、成虫产卵选择和幼虫体长与油松针叶内含水量成显著正相关(P0.01);与寄主总酚含量(P0.01)和碳氮比(P0.05)成显著负相关。[结论]油松毛虫对一年生油松针叶具有明显的产卵和取食偏嗜行为。一年生油松针叶内含水量最高、总酚含量最低、有机碳含量最低可能是造成寄主偏嗜行为的原因。     

Identification of Cylindrocladium sp. causing damping-off disease of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) and factors affecting the disease severity in a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)-dominated area

The regeneration of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) seedlings is inhibited in a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)-dominated area. We examined the presence of pathogenic fungi in Japanese black pine seedlings in the area in order to determine the effect of pathogenic fungi on the inhibition of regeneration. When Japanese black pine seedlings were planted in the soil obtained from a black locust-dominated area, all of the seedlings died under low-intensity light conditions, whereas 84% of the seedlings survived in the soil obtained from a Japanese black pine-dominated area under the same light conditions. One fungus was isolated from 48.7% of the dead pine seedlings and was identified as Cylindrocladium pacificum Kang, Crous & Schoch, based on the morphological characteristics, growth, and DNA analysis. This fungus was also isolated from 50% of the dead pine seedlings in 2005 and 66.7% of the seedlings in 2006—both were planted in a black locust-dominated area. The virulence of this fungus increased under high-nitrogen and/or low-intensity light conditions. These results reveal the possibility that the soil eutrophication and shading by the black locust are conducive to a severe damping-off disease and threaten the survival and regeneration of Japanese black pine seedlings.     

Ecological study of a forest humus by observing a small volume I. Penetration of pine litter by mycorrhizal fungi

Observed on a 5 × 5 cm small surface of litter in a 35-years-old Scots pine stand with bracken and the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum, the F₁ layer is extensively invaded by a mycelial mat made of several mycorrhizal fungi. Observations under a light microscope gave circumstantial evidence of the role of these fungi in advanced stages of decomposition: they seem to protect the partly decayed plant material and the faeces deposited by soil animals from subsequent attack by soil bacteria. Penetration of pine needles and cadavers or soil arthropods is prominent in so far as animals have previously made entries by tunnelling into the substrates. In addition the black mycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum was observed to penetrate bracken epidermal cells by its own means and to make lysis zones in dead arthropod cuticles. Consequences for forest soil ecology and tree nutrition are discussed in view of existing literature.     

Effect of damaged pine needles on growth and development of pine caterpillar larvae

Chinese pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus tabulaeformis) larvae were fed with pine needles of different degrees of damage to evaluate the effects of pine needles on the growth and development of larvae. The results showed that the nutritional index of the larvae declines after feeding on the damaged pine needlings. The lowest amount of food ingested and voided feces, the lowest nutritional index, slowest development, lightest pupae and most mortality were found in those pine caterpillar larvae fed with pine needles which were 50% damaged. The damaged pine needles significantly affected the population dynamics of Chinese pine caterpillars. The nutritional indices of larvae fed with 25% and 75% damaged pine needles were similar. The nutritional index of the dark morphs was higher than that of the tinted morphs, however, their mortality was lower than that of the tinted morphs. This phenomenon was reversed at the later stage of development when the larvae were fed on 50% damaged pine needles. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2005, 27(6): 83–88 [译自: 北京林业大学学报, 2005, 27(6): 83–88]     

Comparison of bluestain fungi grown in vitro and in freshly cut pine billets

Both moulds and bluestain fungi cause serious economic losses and much research is aimed at finding environmentally and economically acceptable methods of control. Despite this, there has been little study of the growth of these fungi in freshly cut wood unaltered by drying or sterilization and which therefore resembles the substratum normally invaded under natural field conditions. Thus, the growth of six sapstain fungi was compared at 20°C in freshly cut pine billets and on three types of artificial media (MEA, TWA and Pine Sapwood agar). The fungi comprised Ceratocystis coerulescens, Leptographium wingfieldii, Ophiostoma minus, Ophiostoma piceae, Phacidium coniferarum and Sphaeropsis sapinea. The six species varied markedly in their linear growth rate on agar media. In pine billets, they extended at different rates in longitudinal, radial and tangential directions, showing different pathogenic ability and patterns of colonization. Some species appeared to be ‘xylem preferring’ while others colonized the phloem tissue more readily. The growth of C. coerulescens in pine billets was very rapid (19.4 mm/day) and on average was more than twice as fast as on MEA, suggesting it was strongly stimulated by living pine tissue. The fungi also tended to grow more slowly in logs cut between autumn and spring compared with those harvested in mid- to late summer.     

Aggressiveness of Fusarium oxysporum and F. verticillioides isolates on stone and scots pine under greenhouse conditions

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Stone pine (Pinus pinea) are two important species used in re-forestation that are subject to damage by damping-off fungi in forest nurseries. Twenty-two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum and F. verticillioides from diseased seedlings of eight different hosts were tested for aggressiveness on seeds and seedlings of both pine species, including the effects on seedling emergence and mortality. Scots pine was more susceptible to damping-off than Stone pine, as indicated both by reduced seedling emergence and elevated seedling mortality. The impact of F. oxysporum and F. verticillioides on seeds and seedlings did not differ significantly for either pine species. Our findings support previous studies that found that these are damping-off pathogens on the studied pines. Whereas most isolates proved to be pathogenic, some isolates of both Fusarium species showed to be non-pathogenic.     

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.     

松针褐斑病初步研究

松针褐斑病的病原菌为Ｉｅｃａｎｏｓｔｉｃｔａ ａｃｉｃｏｌａ，在病叶上或叶上的病了实体和病组织中的菌丝体是初侵染源。侵染期主要在５月上旬至６月中旬。病原菌通过雨水的溅散主风力而传播。在发病初期采用百菌清可湿性粉剂和托布津农药喷液及人工摘病叶的进行防治，均能收到一定效果。     

Biocontrol of decay in seasoning utility poles. I. Growth rate and colonizing ability of bluestain and decay fungi in vivo and in vitro

Seasoning (air drying) of utility poles for 6–12 months is essential before preservative treatment can be achieved. However, during seasoning, pine sapwood is often colonized by decay fungi, thereby compromising the performance and service life of the poles. This study investigated the potential of bluestain fungi to act as short‐term biocontrol agents against decay during seasoning. An important attribute for biocontrol is rapid growth, so growth rates of common bluestain (Ceratocystis coerulescens, Ophiostoma minus, Ophiostoma piceae, Ophiostoma piliferum, Sphaeropsis sapinea) and decay fungi (Heterobasidion annosum, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Stereum sanguinolentum) were compared on agar medium and pine in logs at various temperatures. On agar, the growth temperature optimum of most bluestain fungi and all the decay fungi was ～25°C, with little growth at ≤5°C or above 32.5°C. Overall, the fastest growing were S. sapinea and O. minus. In logs, the most effective colonizers were S. sapinea and O. minus with pathogenic abilities that made them well fitted to colonize the sapwood of freshly felled pine. Within these species, certain isolates produced much larger lesions in phloem and the sapwood tangential plane than all the decay fungi. Notably, there was significant variation in colonizing ability between different isolates within a species, emphasizing the need for testing a range of isolates when selecting a potential biocontrol agent.     

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.     

Interactions between callus cultures of Pinus sylvestris and pine fungi with different trophic properties

Fungal virulence may be studied using tissues cultures of host plants in dual cultures in vitro, enabling analyses of interactions with undifferentiated cells of their host plants. Three genotypes of Pinus sylvestris callus, initiated by somatic embryogenesis, were used for establishing dual cultures with fungi pathogenic, endophytic or saprotrophic on pine needles or shoots. Fungal growth towards the plant callus tissue differed, depending on the life strategy of the fungus. The pathogen Gremmeniella abietina proved the slowest colonizer of callus whereas the saprotrophic Phacidium lacerum was the fastest. Gremmeniella abietina partially overgrew the callus, causing extensive necrosis and death within 10 days after inoculation. Anthostomella formosa, an endophyte of pines, did not cause evident symptoms of callus degradation: after 10 days of dual culture, the callus cells remained greenish and at least 50% of cells were alive. In dual cultures Ph. lacerum, callus remained alive until the end of the experiment, maintaining a white‐creamy colour with a loose cell structure. Electrophoresis of protein extracts from the callus showed the presence of additional bands of 25–35 kDa only in host tissues challenged with the pathogen G. abietina, possibly indicating the production of pathogenesis‐related proteins. This work has shown that pine callus does not respond equally to challenge with different fungal isolates. In general, one‐third of the isolates of each fungus examined showed greater virulence compared to other isolates.     

Bionomics ofHaematoloma dorsatum (Hom., Cercopidae) in relation to needle damage in pine forests

The red-black pine bug,Haematoloma dorsatum, originates from the Mediterranean region, where it is known since long as a pest on pine trees. The insect has spread northwards during the last decades and it is now widely distributed in Europe. Within the West European region, however, severe pine needle damage is reported from The Netherlands only. Here, the nymphs suck on the roots of the grassDeschampsia (Avenella) flexuosa, which has expanded strongly in our pine forests, greatly due to atmospherical nitrogen deposition. The adults suck on the needles of several coniferous trees, primarily onPinus sylvestris. Due to the sucking, transverse rows of yellowish to brownish rings are formed around the needles. Later on, the needles become completely brown and drop off. These symptoms appear, when the adults already have left their host plants. Therefore, the symptoms could be wrongly attributed to other causes. A review of the literature is given on the infestations and bionomics ofH. dorsatum.With 6 figures     

Physiological studies on variation in resistance of Pinus sylvestris to Lophodermium pinastri

Buffering capacity and pH values of extracts of pine needles varied with age in the course of the ontogeny of needles. Significant differences between a resistant and a susceptible pine clone group in relation to resistance against Lophodermium pinastri could be shown in autumn and winter. Also the variability of the parasite influences the host-parasite interaction as shown by alteration of pH values by 3 L. pinastri strains in cultural trials on needle extract medium.     

Pine canker fungus,Lachnellula pini,and L. flavovirens in Finland

The distribution of Lachnellula pini, cause of pine canker and Lacbnellula flavovirens, occurring on pine needles and branches killed by snow blight, was studied in Finland.     

Endophytische Pilze in Nadeln von gesunden und geschädigten Fichten (Picea abies [L.] Karsten)

Endophytic fungi in needles of healthy-looking and diseased Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karsten). Endophytic fungi were isolated from surface-sterilized, 5 to 6 year old needles of healthy-looking and diseased trees. Two fungal species could be isolated frequently: Lophodermium piceae and Tiarosporella parca. At any site neither L. piceae nor T. parca could be isolated more frequently from needles of diseased trees. The possible types of relationship between these two fungi and Norway spruce are discussed.     

Adelges aphids and fungi causing premature defoliation of Larch

Meria laricis invaded needles of Larix X eurolepis at the feeding sites of Adelges spp and caused pre-mature needle fall. The position of the feeding site on the needle determined the time of their fall. Among other fungi isolated from needles attacked by aphids were Cladosporium herbarum, Lophodermitim laricinum, Aureobasidium pullulans, Stereum sp., Thyssanophora penicillioides, Botrytis cinerea and Epicoccum sp. The feeding sites on the needles, the remaining unattacked parts of the needles and the naturally senescent needles were found to be colonized by different fungi at different times.     

油松常见2种散斑壳属真菌致病性的研究

通过标本采集、分类鉴定和接种试验方法对采自辽宁东部地区油松上针叶树散斑壳(Lophodermium conignum)、松针散斑壳(Lophodermium pinastri)2个真菌种的致病性进行了研究,结果发现这2个种均是引起油松落针病的主要致病种,并且症状表现、致病特点均存在着一定的差异。     

Seasonal differences in freezing stress resistance of needles of Pinus nigra and Pinus resinosa: evaluation of the electrolyte leakage method

Seasonal changes in freezing stress resistance of needles of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) and Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) trees were measured by an electrolyte leakage method and by visual observation. During most of the year, freezing stress resistance determined by the two methods gave similar results. The electrolyte leakage method provided a good estimate of seasonal changes in freezing stress resistance except for red pine needles in their most winter-hardy state. To obtain a reliable estimate of freezing stress resistance in winter-hardy red pine needles it was necessary to combine the electrolyte leakage method with visual observations. When red pine needles survived exposure to -80 degrees C or lower, electrolyte leakage was never more than 30% even when the needles were exposed to a slow freeze-thaw stress of -196 degrees C. However, rapid freezing of red pine needles to -196 degrees C resulted in electrolyte leakage of over 80%. Red pine needles attained a much higher freezing stress resistance during the winter than Austrian pine. Red pine needles also acclimated and deacclimated faster than Austrian pine needles. An index of injury was developed based on the electrolyte leakage method ((R(2) + R(1))/2, where R(1) is the minimum % electrolyte leakage from noninjured tissue and R(2) is the maximum % electrolyte leakage at the highest injury) that reliably predicted freezing stress resistance of pine needles for most of the year. Important aspects for developing a successful index of injury for pine needles are: use of cut needles, vacuum infiltration and shaking during incubation in water.We conclude that: (1) during cold acclimation the cell wall properties of the pine needles changed and these changes, which appeared to differ in the two species, might explain the very low leakage of electrolytes from winter-hardy needles of red pine; (2) pine needles survive winter by developing the ability to tolerate extracellular ice formation, because after rapid freezing the needles were severely injured; and (3) red pine is adapted to a shorter growing season and colder winters than Austrian pine.