Abstract
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg and O’ Donnell), is a serious threat to pine forests globally. The recent introduction of the pathogen to Southern Europe and its spread in Mediterranean region is alarming considering the immense ecological and economic importance of pines in the region. Pines in forests and nurseries can be infected, resulting in severe growth losses and mortality. The pathogen is known to spread in plants for planting and in seeds, and results from recent studies have indicated that F. circinatum may also spread through phoretic associations with certain insects. With this review, we aim to expand the current understanding of the risk of insect-mediated spread of PPC in different parts of Europe. Through the joint action of a multinational researcher team, we collate the existing information about the insect species spectrum in different biogeographic conditions and scrutinize the potential of these insects to transmit F. circinatum spores in forests and nurseries. We also discuss the impact of environmental factors and forest management in this context. We present evidence for the existence of a high diversity of insects with potential to weaken pines and disseminate PPC in Europe, including several common beetle species. In many parts of Europe, temperatures are projected to rise, which may promote the activity of several insect species, supporting multivoltinism and thus, further amplifying the risk of insect-mediated dissemination of PPC. Integrated pest management (IPM) solutions that comply with forest management practices need to be developed to reduce this risk. We recommend careful monitoring of insect populations as the basis for successful IPM. Improved understanding of environmental control of the interaction between insects, the pathogen, and host trees is needed in order to support development of bio-rational strategies to safeguard European pine trees and forests against F. circinatum in future.
Highlights
IntroductionPine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the ascomycete fungus Fusarium circinatum
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the ascomycete fungus Fusarium circinatum (Nirenberg andO’Donnell), is a severe disease of Pinus spp. and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco [1]
We summarize the regulative effects of abiotic environment on the three partners of the interaction, and discuss the practical possibilities for sustainable management of vector insects across different forest management regimes, using a classification of forest management approaches by Duncker et al [8] and Hengeveld et al [9] as a guideline
Summary
Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the ascomycete fungus Fusarium circinatum The biogeographic regions and FMAs create a complex framework for the activity of the potential vector insects and for their management, shaping the risk of PPC spread in Europe. This framework should be considered when optimizing bio-rational control strategies against vector insects. The goal of this review is to expand our understanding of the risk of PPC spread in different parts of Europe, considering the activity of potential vector insects (sensu lato) across the different biogeographic conditions and forest management approaches, and exploring the possibilities to control the vector insects through different pest management options. We summarize the regulative effects of abiotic environment on the three partners of the interaction (insects, pathogen, and host trees), and discuss the practical possibilities for sustainable management of vector insects across different forest management regimes, using a classification of forest management approaches by Duncker et al [8] and Hengeveld et al [9] as a guideline
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