Journal article
Sources of Diplodia pinea endophytic infections in Pinus patula and P. radiata seedlings in South Africa
Forest Pathology, Vol.41(5), pp.370-375
2011
Abstract
Diplodia pinea, an opportunistic and latent pathogen, can significantly affect Pinus productivity worldwide. Despite being studied in South Africa for almost 100years, the source of D. pinea inoculum responsible for seedling infection is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of seed in vertical transmission of D. pinea and to investigate sources of inoculum leading to horizontal transmission to pine seedlings. Surface-disinfected seeds were inoculated with spore and mycelium suspensions of D. pinea to determine its effect on germination. In addition, isolation of the fungus was performed from surface-disinfected seeds, asymptomatic seedlings collected from nurseries, plantations where pines naturally regenerate and recently established fields, to assess transmission and incidence of endophytic D. pinea infections. Inoculation of seeds with D. pinea spore suspensions affected speed and rate of germination. The fungus was isolated from surface-disinfected seeds in only a few instances (2-3%) and was not found in healthy seedlings collected from greenhouses and nurseries, suggesting that vertical transmission of the fungus does not occur or is rare. In contrast, D. pinea was isolated from 40% of seedlings obtained from the understory of mature P. patula trees showing that horizontal transmission from mature to young trees sustains the D. pinea inoculum in South African pine plantations.
Details
- Title
- Sources of Diplodia pinea endophytic infections in Pinus patula and P. radiata seedlings in South Africa
- Authors/Creators
- W. Bihon (Author/Creator)B. Slippers (Author/Creator)T. Burgess (Author/Creator)M.J. Wingfield (Author/Creator)B.D. Wingfield (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Forest Pathology, Vol.41(5), pp.370-375
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005541717207891
- Copyright
- © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.97 Plant Pathology
- 3.97.1173 Hyphomycetes
- Web Of Science research areas
- Forestry
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science