Influence of leaf damage by the horse chestnut leafminer (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimi\u0107) on mycorrhiza of Aesculus hippocastanum L.

J Tyburska-Woś,B Kieliszewska-Rokicka,K Nowak

doi:10.1007/s00572-018-0862-8

J Tyburska-Woś, B Kieliszewska-Rokicka + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-018-0862-8

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Abstract

In many parts of Europe, the white horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) has been attacked by the horse chestnut leafminer (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić), which causes premature leaf dieback. A. hippocastanum L. establishes mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This study involved a comparison of mature A. hippocastanum individuals susceptible to C. ohridella and individuals resistant to this insect after a one-time treatment with a chemical preparation injected into the tree trunks 7 years before the investigation began. Concentration of macronutrients in soil and the activity of soil nonspecific dehydrogenase did not differ between soils under canopies of the treated and untreated trees. Concentrations of C and N were significantly higher in leaves of the treated than those of the untreated trees. The infestation by C. ohridella and defoliation of leaves of the untreated trees did not significantly influence the frequency and intensity of AM colonization compared to the chemically treated trees, although a tendency towards higher average AM colonization of roots of the untreated trees, infested by the herbivores, than roots of the non-infested trees was observed. The results also indicated a tendency for higher biomass of fine roots per soil volume under the trees treated against C. ohridella than under the trees invaded by the insect.

Highlights

In the last decades, species of the genus Aesculus L. (Hippocastanaceae) in many parts of Europe have suffered attacks by the leaf-mining moth Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić (Lepidoptera)
The pH of soil samples taken under canopies of all trees investigated was slightly alkaline, and no significant difference in soil pH was found among the soil samples taken under the pesticide-treated and untreated trees, both on May 5 and October 5
The results of this study showed that annual infestation and defoliation of mature white horse chestnut by the horse chestnut leafminer C. ohridella did not influence the frequency (F%) and intensity of mycorrhizal colonization (M%, m%) of the tree roots when compared to the roots of control trees that were not attacked by the insect

Summary

Introduction

Species of the genus Aesculus L. (Hippocastanaceae) in many parts of Europe have suffered attacks by the leaf-mining moth Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić (Lepidoptera). (Hippocastanaceae) in many parts of Europe have suffered attacks by the leaf-mining moth Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić (Lepidoptera). The leaf parenchyma between the two epidermis layers is eaten by the insect larvae, and the infected leaves wither and fall prematurely (Takos et al 2008; Thalmann et al 2003). Roots of most plant species are colonized by specialized soil fungi forming mycorrhizal symbiotic associations. A. hippocastanum is included among species forming symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomeromycota) (Harley and Harley 1987; Wang and Qiu 2006); there is only limited information on how these mycorrhizas interact with biotic and abiotic factors. The few studies conducted so far on mycorrhizas of A. hippocastanum grown in urban and rural sites (Bainard et al 2011; Tyburska et al 2013; Karliński et al 2014) showed generally lower-average AM colonization in urban than in rural environments, but the differences between the environments have been mostly not significant. Mycorrhizal fungi are dependent on carbon assimilated by the plant (Garbaye 1991); any factor that reduces the photosynthetic activity and allocation of carbon belowground can negatively influence mycorrhizal fungi (Andersen and Rygiewicz 1991; Cullings et al 2005)

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