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Phytophthora root and collar rot of mature Fraxinus excelsior in forest stands in Poland and Denmark
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Phytophthora root and collar rot of mature Fraxinus excelsior in forest stands in Poland and Denmark

L.B. Orlikowski, M. Ptaszek, A. Rodziewicz, J. Nechwatal, K. Thinggaard and T. Jung
Forest Pathology, Vol.41(6), pp.510-519
2011
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Abstract

In recent years, Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) throughout Europe has been severely impacted by a leaf and twig dieback caused by the hyphomycete Chalara fraxinea. The reasons for its current devastating outbreak, however, still remain unclear. Here, we report the presence of four Phytophthora taxa in declining ash stands in Poland and Denmark. Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora plurivora, Phytophthora taxon salixsoil and Phytophthora gonapodyides were isolated from rhizosphere soil samples and necrotic bark lesions on stems and roots of mature declining ash trees in four stands. The first three species proved to be aggressive to abscised roots, twigs and leaves of F. excelsior in inoculation experiments. Soil infestation tests also confirmed their pathogenicity towards fine and feeder roots of ash seedlings. Our results provide first evidence for an involvement of Phytophthora species as a contributing factor in current decline phenomena of F. excelsior across Europe. Specifically, they may act as a predisposing factor for trees subsequently infected by C. fraxinea. Phytophthora species from ash stands also proved to be aggressive towards a wide range of tree and shrub species commonly associated with F. excelsior in mixed stands. Although damage varied considerably depending on the Phytophthora species/isolate-host plant combination, these results show that many woody species may be a potential source for survival and inoculum build-up of soilborne Phytophthora spp. in ash stands and forest ecosystems in general.

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Collaboration types
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.97 Plant Pathology
3.97.1439 Phytophthora Management
Web Of Science research areas
Forestry
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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