Abstract
Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of Pine Pitch Canker (PPC) of pines and established in the Iberian Peninsula in Europe only. However, it is hypothesized that its range could expand through the Europe in the near future. The disease is very harmful to forests and nurseries all around the world. Despite the aggressiveness of this fungus, no trials on the susceptibility of Ukrainian Scots pine provenances from Pinus sylvestris to F. circinatum have been performed. The first preliminary pathogenicity test was carried out in vitro and revealed the strong probability of high level of pine seedlings susceptibility to pitch canker.
Highlights
Conifers are native components of the tree flora in Europe, and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) usually forms the dominant vegetation cover and are important components of the ecosystems of Ukraine
The pathogen is believed to originate from North America where it was first discovered
The aim of our research was to broaden the knowledge about a new potential invasive disease of pine species, as well as to evaluate the potential threat of Fusarium circinatum, which might be harmful to seeds and seedlings of Pinus sylvestris, and to test the pathogenicity of F. circinatum using germlings of Pinus sylvestris
Summary
Conifers are native components of the tree flora in Europe, and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) usually forms the dominant vegetation cover and are important components of the ecosystems of Ukraine. The pathogen is believed to originate from North America where it was first discovered. It has been found in Central America, South America, South Africa, East Asia and Europe. Its outbreak has been recently reported in Spain and Portugal (EPPO 2012). It was detected in urban parks on P. halepensis and P. pinea in Italy (Gordon et al 2011), and on P. menziesii and Pinus spp. in French nurseries (Gordon 2006). Further entry into Europe, and spread within the EU are considered very likely
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