Inoculation studies of Gibberella circinata to different Pinus species
The susceptibility of 5 Pinus species (P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. resinosa, P. strobus, P. sylvestris) to Gibberella circinata (causing pitch canker – EPPO A2 list) was studied in USA. These species were chosen to determine whether they would be threatened by the introduction of Gibberella circinata in the Great Lakes region of North America, as they are commonly present there. Three-year-old seedlings, growing in pots under glasshouse conditions were inoculated by conidia of the fungus. Resin production, canker length and seedling mortality were recorded 12 weeks later. Incidence of severity varied significantly among the 5 species. P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. strobus, P. sylvestris were all considered susceptible while P. resinosa was resistant. It is concluded that while many questions remained to be answered concerning the effect of temperature and genetic variation within host species on the impact of the fungus, these trials showed that there at least 4 susceptible Pinus species at risk if G. circinata was introduced into forests of the great Lakes region of North America.
Sources
Enebak, S.A.; Stanosz, G.R. (2003) Responses of conifer species of the Great Lakes region of North America to inoculation with the pitch canker pathogen Fusarium circinatum.
Forest Pathology, 33(5), 333-338.