Effect of Bursaphelenchus spp. inoculation on carbohydrate concentrations of differentpine species in forest stands of Düzce Forest Directorate

Abstract

The pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is one of the most important pathogens of conifer forests worldwide that causes the pine wilt disease. This problem has increased the scientific interest in Bursaphelenchus species both in the world and in Turkey. Previously, six Bursaphelenchus species were isolated from wilted pine trees in Turkey. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of nematode inoculation on the total carbohydrate concentrations of tree species. Native six Bursaphelenchus species were inoculated on three pine species (Pinus pinaster, P. nigra, and P. sylvestris) under natural stand conditions. Two different doses of nematodes (2000 and 20,000) were used for inoculation. For each treatment, three trees of each species were inoculated. The total carbohydrate concentrations were differed significantly among tree species, nematode species and between nematode doses. The total carbohydrate concentration values were higher in P. pinaster than both P. nigra and P. sylvestris. These results may suggest that pine species responded to nematode inoculation by changing the amount of TCC.