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Abstract
This study observed the genotypic variation among Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) half-sib families’ susceptibility to Heterobasidion annosum. Scots pine susceptibility was tested in 12 half-sib families by inoculating them with four different H. annosum strains. At two, six, and ten months after the inoculations, the susceptibility indicators (incidence rate, pathogen spread, and mortality rate) were compared and the total phenolic compounds (TPC) in the inoculated and control groups determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Among half-sib families, significant differences were found for seedling mortality (range: 1.3%–21.2%); however, the differences in incidence rate (range: 54%–77%) and pathogen spread (range: 24–53 mm) were not significant. The incidence rate among half-sib families correlated positively and significantly (r = 0.72, p < 0.05) with the mortality rate, while the pathogen spread correlated negatively with mortality, although the correlation was not significant (r = −0.29, p > 0.05). The TPC comparison with susceptibility indicators showed that the half-sib families with lower susceptibility were characterized by the ability to increase TPC after inoculation compared to the control group. This tendency was most apparent in stems and roots six and two months after inoculation, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed that higher TPC in stems six months after inoculation determined a lower incidence rate (r = −0.32, p < 0.05), while higher Change in concentration of total phenolic compounds (TPCΔ) indicated a lower pathogen spread (r = −0.60, p < 0.05). The lowest incidence of the pathogen was determined in half-sib families with the highest TPCΔ in the roots two months after inoculation. The lower susceptibility of Scots pine half-sib families is based on a combination of enhanced constitutive and inducible phenolic defense mechanisms. The data may facilitate the selection of Scots pine half-sib families with low susceptibility for breeding programs and forest management strategies.
Highlights
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most widely distributed pine and is found throughout Eurasia.In the EU member states, it constitutes approximately 20% of the commercial forest area, and is of considerable importance as a timber producing species, especially in the north of Europe [1]
Our results show that H. annosum mycelium growth is time dependent
total phenolic compounds (TPC) concentration (Figure 4a–c) compared with susceptibility indicators showed that the half-sib family with lower susceptibility was characterized by the ability to increase TPC after inoculation compared to the control group
Summary
In the EU member states, it constitutes approximately 20% of the commercial forest area, and is of considerable importance as a timber producing species, especially in the north of Europe [1]. In. Lithuania, Scots pine occupies 1/3 of all forested areas [2]. Scots pine does not have a lot of pests in Lithuania, a considerable number of overall pine stands are suffering from one of the most dangerous pathogens in the Northern Hemisphere—root rot (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref.). This organism is considered an economically important pathogen of trees in the majority of northern temperate forests of Europe and North America [3]. In Lithuania, up to 300–400 ha of Forests 2019, 10, 287; doi:10.3390/f10030287 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests
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