First Report of Pitch Canker Caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in Apulia (Southern Italy)

Since 2005, pitch canker symptoms have been observed in Apulia (southern Italy, 41°27′42.84″N, 15°33′0.36″E) on numerous trees of Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in urban parks and gardens. Trees showed crown decline as a consequence of dieback of twigs and branches and withering of needles. Bleeding cankers with abundant resin were visible on twigs and branches. The needles of affected twigs and branches wilted, faded, turned yellow, then red, and were discarded. Isolations from symptomatic needles, twigs, and branches were performed on water agar, potato dextrose agar (PDA), and pentachloronitrobenzene medium. A species of Fusarium was consistently isolated from all infected tissues, and pure cultures were obtained by single hyphal tip transfers on PDA and synthetic nutrient agar medium (2). Colonies were incubated at 22 ± 3°C for 7 to 10 days. They produced white aerial mycelia, violet pigment, typically 3-septate macroconidia with slightly curved walls, single-celled microconidia, and characteristic sterile hyphal coils. Microconidia were ovoid or allantoid and born in false heads on aerial polyphialides. The species was identified as Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell (= F. subglutinans Wollenweb & Reinking) on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (3). The identification was confirmed by PCR with specific primers CIRC1A/CIRC4A. The specific primer pair amplified a 360-bp DNA fragment of the two nuclear ribosomal IGS region (4). The pathogenicity of three Italian isolates of F. circinatum from Pinus spp. (Fc1640, Fc1642, and Fc1643 stored in the collection of Dipartimento Scienze Agroambientali, Chimica and Difesa Vegetale, University of Foggia) was evaluated by artificial inoculations on 2-year-old potted seedlings of P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. nigra, P. sylvestris, P. domestica, P. pinaster, P. excelsa, P. radiate, and Pseudotsuga menziesii (10 seedlings for each species and fungal isolate). Small PDA plugs from actively growing colonies of F. circinatum were introduced into a U-shaped cut on the stem of the seedlings and wrapped with moist sterile cottonwool. An equal number of control plants of each Pinus spp. was inoculated with sterile agar. All plants were grown in a nursery at ambient temperature (20 to 28°C). Within 30 days after inoculation, resinous cankers appeared on the stem of the seedlings of P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. domestica, P. pinaster, and P. radiata. Basal needles began to wilt, turn yellow, then red, and were discarded. F. circinatum was reisolated from stems of symptomatic seedlings. No symptoms were observed on seedlings of Pseudotsuga menziesii, P. sylvestris, P. excelsa, and P. nigra or on control seedlings. In Europe, pitch canker caused by F. circinatum previously has been reported only in Spain on P. radiata and P. pinaster (1). There was an unconfirmed report of this disease in Italy ( http://www.eppo.org ), but to our knowledge, this is the first definite conclusive evidence of the presence of pitch canker of pine in Italy. References: (1) E. Landeras et al. Plant Dis. 89:1015, 2005. (2) H. I. Niremberg. Mitt. Biol. Bundesanst. Land-Forstwirtsch. Berl.-Dahl, 169:1, 1976. (3) H. I. Niremberg and K. O'Donnell. Mycologia 90:434, 1998. (4) W. Schweigkofler et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:3512, 2004.

Download Full-text

Outbreak of Pitch Canker Caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus spp. in Northern Spain

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-89-1015a ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 89 (9) ◽

pp. 1015-1015 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

E. Landeras ◽

P. García ◽

Y. Fernández ◽

M. Braña ◽

O. Fernández-Alonso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intergenic Spacer ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Northern Spain ◽

Centraalbureau Voor ◽

Canker Disease ◽

Intergenic Spacer Region ◽

Appl Environ ◽

Pinus Spp

During the winter of 2003-2004, dieback symptoms were observed on Pinus radiata and P. pinaster in pine nurseries in Asturias (northern Spain). Small groups of affected seedlings appeared randomly distributed throughout the nurseries. The seedlings died rapidly, showing basal needle dieback, stem lesions, resin exudations, and wilting. Isolations from infected material onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with 0.5 mg/ml of streptomycin sulfate and Komada's medium consistently yielded Fusarium sp. cultures. The isolates were transferred to PDA and Spezieller Nährstoffarmer agar and incubated at 25°C for 10 days with a 12-h photoperiod. The cultures were identified as Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell (= Fusarium subglutinans Wollenweb. & Reinking), causal agent of pitch canker disease, on basis of the presence of polyphialides and characteristic sterile, coiled, hyphae (2). To further confirm their identity, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) based on histone H3 gene sequences (4) and a test based on the F. circinatum-specific primers, CIRC1A-CIRC4A, which amplifies a 360-bp DNA fragment of the intergenic spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal operon (3), were used. Results obtained with both techniques confirmed the morphological identification of the cultures. A representative culture has been placed in the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS 117843). The pathogen was isolated only from seedlings of P. radiata and P. pinaster. Other species such as P. nigra, P. sylvestris, and Pseudotsuga menziesii, which were also grown in these nurseries, did not show symptoms. Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating 6- to 9-month-old P. radiata and P. pinaster seedlings. Small strips of bark (10 × 1 mm) were cut from the stems and similar sized pieces of PDA colonized by F. circinatum were placed in contact with the open wounds and covered with parafilm. Basal needle dieback was observed 10 days after inoculation that resulted in wilting of the seedlings. F. circinatum was reisolated from the affected stems fulfilling Koch's postulates. Later in the year, symptoms of pitch canker were also observed on 20-year-old P. radiata in one forest plantation in Cantabria (northern Spain). Infected branches and shoots of the trees exudated abundant resin, resulting in resinous cankers. The needles, distal to branch tip infections, wilt, fade to yellow then red, and fall from the tree. Affected trees showed noticeable crown dieback. The isolations from the cankers also yielded F. circinatum cultures that were identified as described above. Although a nonrefereed report appeared in 1998 (1), to our knowledge, this is the first report of F. circinatum on P. radiata and P. pinaster in Spain and in Europe. References: (1) L. D. Dwinell et al. Int. Congr. Plant Pathol. 7th. 3:9, 1998. (2) H. I. Nirenberg and K. O'Donnell. Mycologia 90:434, 1998. (3) W. Schweigkofler et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:3512, 2004. (4) E. T. Steenkamp et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:3401, 1999.

Download Full-text

Susceptibility of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) to pitch canker, caused by Gibberella circinata (anamorph = Fusarium circinatum)

Plant Pathology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01351.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 231-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

T. R. Gordon ◽

S. C. Kirkpatrick ◽

B. J. Aegerter ◽

D. L. Wood ◽

A. J. Storer

Keyword(s):

Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Gibberella Circinata

Download Full-text

An initial assessment of genetic relationships among populations of Fusarium circinatum in different parts of the world

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b00-044 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 709-717 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Karen Wikler ◽

Thomas R Gordon

Keyword(s):

Genetic Relationships ◽

Initial Assessment ◽

Multilocus Genotype ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Canker Disease ◽

Vegetative Compatibility Groups ◽

Tree Disease ◽

Genotype Frequencies ◽

Pinus Spp

Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell, the fungus responsible for pitch canker disease, is a destructive pathogen of Pinus spp. Pitch canker was first described in 1946 in the southeastern United States, and since 1987 has been reported in numerous other locations including California, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. To make a preliminary assessment of relationships between populations of F. circinatum in these different locations, we compared allele and genotype frequencies based on eight polymorphic regions of DNA from 76 isolates of the fungus. Patterns of relatedness indicate that the California and Japanese populations of the fungus share lineages with the southeastern U.S.A. population. Genetic diversity is highest in Mexico, implicating it as the center of origin for the fungus. The association of multiple vegetative compatibility groups with a common multilocus genotype suggests that vegetative compatible group diversity may be generated by mutation, rather than through recombination resulting from sexual reproduction.Key words: genomic subtraction, tree disease, genetic distance.

Download Full-text

Global Geographic Distribution and Host Range of Fusarium circinatum, the Causal Agent of Pine Pitch Canker

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11070724 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 724 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rein Drenkhan ◽

Beccy Ganley ◽

Jorge Martín-García ◽

Petr Vahalík ◽

Kalev Adamson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

Host Species ◽

Causal Agent ◽

Global Distribution ◽

Host Susceptibility ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Susceptible Host ◽

Pinus Spp

Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), is currently one of the most important threats of Pinus spp. globally. This pathogen is known in many pine-growing regions, including natural and planted forests, and can affect all life stages of trees, from emerging seedlings to mature trees. Despite the importance of PPC, the global distribution of F. circinatum is poorly documented, and this problem is also true of the hosts within countries that are affected. The aim of this study was to review the global distribution of F. circinatum, with a particular focus on Europe. We considered (1) the current and historical pathogen records, both positive and negative, based on confirmed reports from Europe and globally; (2) the genetic diversity and population structure of the pathogen; (3) the current distribution of PPC in Europe, comparing published models of predicted disease distribution; and (4) host susceptibility by reviewing literature and generating a comprehensive list of known hosts for the fungus. These data were collated from 41 countries and used to compile a specially constructed geo-database. A review of 6297 observation records showed that F. circinatum and the symptoms it causes on conifers occurred in 14 countries, including four in Europe, and is absent in 28 countries. Field observations and experimental data from 138 host species revealed 106 susceptible host species including 85 Pinus species, 6 non-pine tree species and 15 grass and herb species. Our data confirm that susceptibility to F. circinatum varies between different host species, tree ages and environmental characteristics. Knowledge on the geographic distribution, host range and the relative susceptibility of different hosts is essential for disease management, mitigation and containment strategies. The findings reported in this review will support countries that are currently free of F. circinatum in implementing effective procedures and restrictions and prevent further spread of the pathogen.

Download Full-text

First Report of Pitch Canker on Pines Caused by Fusarium circinatum in Portugal

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-93-10-1079a ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 93 (10) ◽

pp. 1079-1079 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

H. Bragança ◽

E. Diogo ◽

F. Moniz ◽

P. Amaro

Keyword(s):

Intergenic Spacer ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Northern Spain ◽

European Continent ◽

First Report ◽

Plant Groups ◽

Pure Cultures ◽

Terminal Shoot ◽

Pine Species

In November of 2007, dieback symptoms (basal needle dieback, wilting, and dieback of terminal shoot) were observed on plant groups of Pinus radiata and P. pinaster in a tree nursery located in Anadia in the central region of Portugal (40°26′N, 08°23′W). Two containers with a total of 112 plants per pine species (with and without symptoms) were collected. Small pieces (5 mm long; two from the roots, stem at the soil level, and the aerial part, totaling six pieces) of 20 symptomatic plants were sterilized with 3% sodium hypochlorite, and isolations were performed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with 0.5 mg/ml of streptomycin sulfate. A species of Fusarium was isolated from all infected tissues and pure cultures were obtained by single hyphal tip transfers on PDA and Spezieller Nährstoffarmer agar and incubated at 25°C for 10 days with a 12-h photoperiod. The species was identified as Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell (= F. subglutinans Wollenweb & Reinking) on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (2). They produced white, aerial mycelia, violet pigment, typically three-septate macroconidia with slightly curved walls, single-celled microconidia, and characteristic sterile, coiled hyphae. Microconidia were ovoid or allantoid and born in false heads on aerial polyphialides. The identification was confirmed by PCR with specific primers CIRC1A/CIRC4A, resulting in a 360-bp DNA fragment of the two nuclear ribosomal intergenic spacer regions (3). Pathogenicity tests were performed by inoculating 5- and 9-month-old P. pinaster and P. radiata seedlings, respectively. Plants belonging to P. pinea species (8-month-old), the second most important pine in the country, were also included in the tests. Small strips of bark (10 × 1 mm) were cut from the stems and similar-sized pieces of PDA colonized by two isolates of F. circinatum were placed in contact with the open wounds and covered with Parafilm. Ten seedlings for each pine species, isolate, and control (with sterile PDA) were provided in a total of 90 plants. First symptoms, basal needle and shoot dieback, were observed in P. radiata 8 days after inoculation. One month later, all P. radiata and 70% of the P. pinaster plants were dead. In all P. pinea plants, needles turned red along the main stem, from center to periphery, but only 2% of these plants presented wilting of the terminal shoot after 1 month. No symptoms were observed on control seedlings. F. circinatum was reisolated from symptomatic plants of the three species tested. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. circinatum in Portugal. Pitch canker, caused by Gibberella circinata (anamorph F. circinatum), is one of the most aggressive pathogens on several pine species in the world (1). In 2005, the fungus was detected in the European continent affecting P. radiata and P. pinaster in northern Spain. References: (1) E. Landeras et al. Plant Dis. 89:1015, 2005. (2) H. I. Niremberg and K. O'Donnell. Mycologia 90:434, 1998. (3) W. Schweigkofler et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:3512, 2004.

Download Full-text

New insights into the role of constitutive bacterial rhizobiome and phenolic compounds in two Pinus spp. with contrasting susceptibility to pine pitch canker

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpab119 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frederico Leitão ◽

Glória Pinto ◽

Joana Amaral ◽

Pedro Monteiro ◽

Isabel Henriques

Keyword(s):

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Pgp Traits ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Pinus Spp ◽

Pine Species

Abstract The rhizobiome is being increasingly acknowledged as a key player in plant health and breeding strategies. The pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum, affects pine species with varying susceptibility degrees. Our aims were to explore the bacterial rhizobiome of a susceptible (Pinus radiata) and a resistant (Pinus pinea) species together with other physiological traits, and to analyze shifts upon F. circinatum inoculation. Pinus seedlings were stem inoculated with F. circinatum spores and needle gas exchange and antioxidant-related parameters were analyzed in non-inoculated and inoculated plants. Rhizobiome structure was evaluated through 16S rRNA gene massive parallel sequencing. Species (non-inoculated plants) harbored distinct rhizobiomes (<40% similarity), where P. pinea displayed a rhizobiome with increased abundance of taxa described in suppressive soils, displaying plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits and/or antifungal activity. Plants of this species also displayed higher levels of phenolic compounds. Fusarium circinatum induced slight changes in the rhizobiome of both species and a negative impact in photosynthetic-related parameters in P. radiata. We concluded that the rhizobiome of each pine species is distinct and higher abundance of bacterial taxa associated to disease protection was registered for the PPC-resistant species. Furthermore, differences in the rhizobiome are paralleled by a distinct content in phenolic compounds, which are also linked to plants’ resistance against PPC. This study unveils a species-specific rhizobiome and provides insights to exploit the rhizobiome for plant selection in nurseries and for rhizobiome-based plant-growth-promoting strategies, boosting environmentally friendly disease control strategies.

Download Full-text

A Comparative Study of the Pathogenicity of Fusarium circinatum and other Fusarium Species in Polish Provenances of P. sylvestris L.

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9090560 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 560 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kateryna Davydenko ◽

Justyna Nowakowska ◽

Tomasz Kaluski ◽

Magdalena Gawlak ◽

Katarzyna Sadowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Pitch Canker ◽

Fusarium Circinatum ◽

Northern Spain ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Pine Seedlings ◽

Unintentional Introduction ◽

Different Levels

The fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of Pine Pitch Canker (PPC), a disease which seriously affects different species of pine in forests and nurseries worldwide. In Europe, the fungus affects pines in northern Spain and Portugal, and it has also been detected in France and Italy. Here, we report the findings of the first trial investigating the susceptibility of Polish provenances of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L., to infection by F. circinatum. In a greenhouse experiment, 16 Polish provenances of Scots pine were artificially inoculated with F. circinatum and with six other Fusarium species known to infect pine seedlings in nurseries. All pines proved highly susceptible to PPC and displayed different levels of susceptibility to the other Fusarium spp. tested. The findings obtained indicate the potentially strong threat of establishment of an invasive pathogen such as F. circinatum following unintentional introduction into Poland.

Download Full-text