Interactions between insects and fungal pathogens of forest and ornamental trees

Abstract

The Authors have analyzed the interactions between insects and fungal pathogens of chestnut, cypress, elm, oak and pine trees in the natural environment and in urban areas. A brief description of the insect's life cycle is provided by relating some of its phases with the vectored fungus. The purpose of this work is to relate the different insect/pathogen associations with their environment in order to bring out the role of such symbioses in determining, together with abiotic factors, the destabilization of forest and urban ecosystems. The ascertained and possible interactions, as well as the ones that might occur in the future between immigrant and resident insects and fungal pathogens as a consequence of new introductions, are treated separately, taking into account the available control strategies, in particular those that are feasible in human-frequented areas.