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Resistance Reaction of Conifer Species (European Larch, Norway Spruce, Scots Pine) to Infection by Selected Necrotrophic Damping-off Pathogens

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Abstract

Three conifer species (European larch, Norway spruce, Scots pine) were investigated for their resistance to five damping-off pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, F. culmorum, F. avenaceum). Inoculation of the primary roots of seedlings with these pathogens caused host cell death which did not prevent the invasive growth of these fungi; seedlings that had formed secondary and tertiary roots could overcome the infection to a significant degree. Infections with R. solani caused significant mortality to all the conifer species. In contrast, the tree species expressed different levels of resistance when challenged with the Fusarium isolates, with Norway spruce being the most resistant compared to uninoculated controls. Some of the Fusarium isolates were more pathogenic to certain hosts than others; F. oxysporum for European larch, F. avenaceum for Scots pine, F. solani for European larch; only F. culmorum was significantly pathogenic to Norway spruce. No significant differences in disease severity were observed at different soil pH (4.3–7.5). Disease progression was delayed at lower (10–15°C) rather than higher temperatures (20–25°C).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, Uppsala, Sweden

    M. Kacprzak

  2. Department of Forest Pathology, University of Agriculture, Poznan, Poland

    M. Kacprzak & M. Mañka

  3. Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, Uppsala, Sweden

    F.O. Asiegbu

  4. Department of Wood Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7008, Uppsala, Sweden

    G. Daniel

  5. Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, Uppsala, Sweden

    J. Stenlid & M. Johansson

Authors
  1. M. Kacprzak
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  2. F.O. Asiegbu
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  3. G. Daniel
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  4. J. Stenlid
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  5. M. Mañka
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  6. M. Johansson
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Correspondence to F.O. Asiegbu.

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Kacprzak, M., Asiegbu, F., Daniel, G. et al. Resistance Reaction of Conifer Species (European Larch, Norway Spruce, Scots Pine) to Infection by Selected Necrotrophic Damping-off Pathogens. European Journal of Plant Pathology 107, 191–207 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011241617946

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011241617946

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