First Report of Arceuthobium hondurense on Pinus tecunumannii

Honduran dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens) is a rare dwarf mistletoe found only in Honduras (1,2). Thus far, it has been reported to parasitize only Pinus oocarpa Schiede (2). In October 1999, we observed infection by A. hondurense on P. tecunumannii (Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry along the trail to the summit of Montana del Celaque (elevation 1,750 to 1,800 m) on the east side of Celaque National Park, ≈5 km west of Gracias (Department Lempira), Honduras. Infected pines had witches′ brooms, and mistletoe shoot production was common on infected branches. This is the first report of A. hondurense on P. tecunumannii. Specimens of A. hondurense from P. tecunumannii were collected and have been deposited at the Herbario, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales, Siguatepeque, Honduras, and at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. 1996. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. U.S. Dep. Agric. Agric. Handb. 709. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Phytologia 36:211, 1998.

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First Report of Arceuthobium hondurense in Oaxaca, Mexico

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2002.86.1.72b ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 72-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

D. Nickrent ◽

C. Daugherty

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Male Flower ◽

Flower Color ◽

Its Sequences ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Isthmus Of Tehuantepec ◽

Celaque National Park

Honduran dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens) has only been found in four locations in Honduras: west of Zamorano, east of Lepaterique, Cusuco National Park, and Celaque National Park (1,2). At one time it was believed that this mistletoe could be in danger of extinction (1). However, it has also been reported in two locations in Chiapas, Mexico (3). In December 2000, ≈1 km north of Suchixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, near Route 175 (elevation 2,770 m), we collected a dwarf mistletoe parasitizing Pinus tecunumanii (Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry that was morphologically similar to A. hondurense (1). This population initially had been classified as A. nigrum Hawksw. & Wiens (1), but is now classified as A. hondurense based on morphology (male flower color and stigma length) (1) and analysis of nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences from Honduras (GenBank Accession No. AF325969) and Oaxaca (GenBank Accession No. AY055215). A comparison of these two A. hondurense ITS sequences indicated they are very closely related to each other, whereas both are distinct from A. nigrum (GenBank Accession No. L25693). Specimens of A. hondurense from Oaxaca were deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. hondurense in Oaxaca, Mexico, and extends its known distribution west across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec from central Chiapas by ≈400 km. References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709, 1996. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Phytologia 85:268, 1998. (3) R. Mathiasen et al. Plant Dis. 85:444, 2001.

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First Report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on Pinus oocarpa and Pinus maximinoi

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2000.84.2.203a ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. 203-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

J. Melgar ◽

J. Beatty ◽

C. Parks

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Parasitic Plant ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Single Tree ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Oocarpa ◽

Host Mortality ◽

Celaque National Park ◽

Main Entrance

The mistletoe Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt (Loranthaceae) was first described in 1987 on Pinus from Nicaragua near the Honduran border, but the species of pine was not designated (1). Kuijt (1) speculated that this mistletoe probably also occurs in Honduras. During March and October 1999 we observed P. angustifolius parasitizing Pinus oocarpa Schiede in the departments of Choluteca, Francisco Morazan, El Paraiso, Intibuca, Lempira, and Olancho in Honduras. This mistletoe appears to be a very common parasitic plant on pines in Honduras and is associated with host mortality. We also observed P. angustifolius parasitizing Pinus maximinoi H.E. Moore at two locations in the department of Lempira: one infection on a single tree 1.5 km east of El Matazano (elevation 1,400 m) and six and eight infections on two trees 0.5 km west of the main entrance to Celaque National Park east of Gracias (elevation 1,200 m). This is the first report of P. angustifolius in Honduras and the first report of this mistletoe on Pinus oocarpa and Pinus maximinoi. Specimens of P. angustifolius from Pinus oocarpa and Pinus maximinoi have been deposited at the Herbario, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales, Siguatepeque, Honduras, and at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. Reference: (1) J. Kuijt. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 74:511, 1987.

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First Report of Arceuthobium hondurense in Department El Paraiso, Honduras

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-0685a ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 685-685

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

J. Melgar

Keyword(s):

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Oocarpa

The Honduran dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens (Viscaceae), has only been reported from three general areas in Honduras (2). During September 2005, we found a fourth location for this rare dwarf mistletoe south of San Lucas in Department El Paraiso (13°52′58″N, 86°58′04″W; elevation 1,350 m). The mistletoe was parasitizing Pinus oocarpa Schiede, and many trees were severely infected in this area. Several dead trees were also observed with evidence of past dwarf mistletoe infection (witches' brooms). Although this report only extends the distribution approximately 40 km to the southeast of populations of this mistletoe in Department Francisco Morazan, to our knowledge, this is the first report of A. hondurense in Department El Paraiso. At one time, A. hondurense was thought to be in danger of extinction (1), but it is now known from four separate locations in Honduras and has been discovered in a few locations in southern Mexico (2). Nevertheless, this dwarf mistletoe remains one of the rarest mistletoes known. Specimens of A. hondurense from El Paraiso have been deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession No. 80338). References: (1) F. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf mistletoes: Biology, pathology, and systematics. USDA For. Serv. Agric. Handb. 709, 1996. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Madrono 50:115, 2003.

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First Report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on Pines in Mexico and Guatemala

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2000.84.7.808d ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 84 (7) ◽

pp. 808-808 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

C. Parks ◽

J. Beatty ◽

S. Sesnie

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Botanical Garden ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Tecunumanii ◽

New York Botanical Garden ◽

Pinus Oocarpa ◽

North And South ◽

Common Parasite

The mistletoe Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt (Loranthaceae) is a common parasite of pines in Honduras (2). In March we observed this mistletoe parasitizing a pine that Farjon and Styles (1) have classified as Pinus tecunumanii Eguiluz & J. P. Perry 4 km south of Jitotol, Chiapas, Mexico. The taxonomy of this host in Chiapas is controversial as Perry (3) classifies the Chiapas populations of this pine as Pinus oocarpa var. ochoterenai Martinez. We also observed P. angustifolius on P. oocarpa Schiede 4 km north of Jitotol. In addition, we found this mistletoe parasitizing Pinus maximinoi H. E. Moore approximately 15 km west of Ocosingo, Chiapas. In Guatemala, we observed P. angustifolius on P. oocarpa at several locations north and south of La Cumbre, Department Baja Verapaz. This mistletoe appears to be less common in Chiapas and Guatemala than it is in Honduras. We did not observe this mistletoe damaging its pine hosts in Mexico or Guatemala. This is the first report of P. angustifolius in both Mexico and Guatemala and the first report of this mistletoe on Pinus tecunumanii (or Pinus oocarpa var. ochoterenai). Specimens of P. angustifolius from the above pine hosts have been deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. References: (1) A. Farjon and B. Styles. Pinus (Pinaceae), Flora Neotropica, Monogr. 75, New York Botanical Garden, 1997. (2) Mathiasen et al. Plant Dis. 84:203, 2000. (3) J. Perry. The Pines of Mexico and Central America, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1991

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Western Dwarf Mistletoe Parasitizing Colorado Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce in California

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.1998.82.3.351e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 351-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. L. Mathiasen ◽

J. R. Allison ◽

B. W. Geils

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Pinus Ponderosa ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Blue Spruce ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Jeffrey Pine ◽

Shoot Production

Western dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium campylopodum Engelm.), a common parasite of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.), was found parasitizing planted Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karsten) in Upper Cuddy Valley, CA (Kern County, T. 9 N., R. 21 W., Sec. 25). One tree greater than 6 m in height of each spruce species was infected and both trees were within 12 m of a Jeffrey pine severely infected with western dwarf mistletoe. Five to 10 branches were infected on each tree and a few of these had abundant mistletoe shoot production, which allowed identification of the parasite. This is the first report of western dwarf mistletoe on Colorado blue spruce. Although this is the first report of natural infection of Norway spruce in California, this mistletoe/host combination has been reported by Weir from artificial inoculation (2) and collected by Russell in central Washington (1). We recommend that these spruce species not be planted within 15 m of pines infected with western dwarf mistletoe. Specimens of western dwarf mistletoe on Colorado blue spruce and Norway spruce were collected and deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. 1996. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709. (2) J. R. Weir. Bot. Gaz. 56:1, 1918.

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First Report of Arceuthobium vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum on Pinus mugo

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2003.87.11.1395c ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 87 (11) ◽

pp. 1395-1395

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

M. Haefeli ◽

D. Leatherman

Keyword(s):

Pinus Ponderosa ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Pinus Mugo ◽

Black Forest ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Mexico ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Positive Identification ◽

Northern Arizona University

Southwestern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum (Willd.) Presl subsp. cryptopodum (Engelm.) Hawksw. & Wiens, family Viscaceae) is a serious and common pathogen of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson & C. Lawson) in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico (1). In July 2002, this dwarf mistletoe was observed parasitizing a 1.4-m tall mugo pine (P. mugo Turra) in the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs, CO (39°02.118′N, 104°36.028′W, elevation 2,250 m). The infected mugo pine was planted as an ornamental approximately 6 m from a ponderosa pine infected with A vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum. Dwarf mistletoe shoots were produced on the only infected branch observed but this was sufficient for a positive identification of the dwarf mistletoe. Although J. Weir successfully inoculated mugo pine with western dwarf mistletoe (A. campylopodum Engelm.) and lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (A. americanum Nutt. ex Engelm.) (2), to our knowledge, this is the first report of a dwarf mistletoe occurring naturally on P. mugo, as well as the first report of A vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum on P. mugo (1). Specimens of A vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum from P. mugo have been deposited in the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession No. 73761). References: (1) F. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf mistletoes: biology, pathology, and systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709, 1996. (2) J. Weir. Bot. Gaz. 56:1, 1918.

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First Report of White Fir Dwarf Mistletoe on Mountain Hemlock

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2002.86.11.1274c ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 86 (11) ◽

pp. 1274-1274

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Western United States ◽

Abies Concolor ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

White Fir ◽

Wilderness Area ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Tsuga Mertensiana

White fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum Engelm. ex Munz f. sp. concoloris Hawksw. & Wiens) is a serious and common pathogen of white fir (Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Hildebr.), grand fir (A. grandis (Dougl. ex D. Don) Lindl.), and Low's fir (A. lowiana (Gord.) A. Murr.) in the western United States (1). In August 2002, this dwarf mistletoe was observed parasitizing mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.) growing among severely infected grand fir near the trailhead to Cabot Lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area, Oregon at 44°34′27″N, 121°43′43″W, elevation 1,340 m. Only 2 of 27 mountain hemlocks observed in this area were infected. One tree had four infections, and one tree had two infections. Several fully developed male plants were found on one of the infected branches of mountain hemlock and were morphologically similar to those growing on the nearby grand fir. Other dwarf mistletoes that commonly parasitize mountain hemlock (Arceuthobium tsugense subsp. mertensianae and Arceuthobium laricis) were not observed in the area. In addition, white fir dwarf mistletoe can be distinguished from these mistletoes by its larger, yellowish shoots (1). Specimens of the mistletoe from mountain hemlock have been deposited in the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. To my knowledge, this is the first report of white fir dwarf mistletoe on mountain hemlock (1). Reference: (1) F. Hawksworth, and D. Wiens. Dwarf mistletoes: biology, pathology, and systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709, 1996

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First Report of Arceuthobium hondurense in Mexico

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2001.85.4.444a ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 444-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

D. Nickrent ◽

C. Parks ◽

J. Beatty ◽

S. Sesnie

Keyword(s):

Pine Forests ◽

Nuclear Rdna ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Rdna Its ◽

Las Casas ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Tecunumanii ◽

Rdna Its Sequences

Honduran dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens) is a rare dwarf mistletoe previously known only from Honduras (1,2). In March 2000 we collected a dwarf mistletoe from approximately 7 km west of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico near Route 190 (elevation 2,440 m), which was morphologically similar to A. hondurense (1). This population had initially been classified as A. nigrumHawksw. & Wiens (1). However, our morphological measurements and analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences of A. hondurense plants from Honduras (GenBank No. AF325969) and the plants from Chiapas (AF325970) have confirmed that the Chiapan population is A. hondurense and not A. nigrum. An additional population of A. hondurense was discovered in Chiapas approximately 11 km west of Oxchuc near Route 186 (elevation 2160 m). Both of the Chiapan populations of A. hondurense were parasitizing Pinus tecunumanii(Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry. Specimens of A. hondurense from Chiapas were deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. This is the first report of A. hondurense in Mexico and extends its known distribution from northwestern Honduras (3) by approximately 500 km. Although A. hondurense has not been observed in the pine forests of Guatemala, it is probable that it also occurs there (1). References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. 1996. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Phytologia 36:211, 1998. (3) R. Mathiasen et al. Plant Dis. 84:372, 2000.

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First Report of Arceuthobium hawksworthii in Honduras

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2002.86.7.815a ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 86 (7) ◽

pp. 815-815 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

B. Howell ◽

J. Melgar

Keyword(s):

Pinus Caribaea ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Pine Ridge ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Mountain Pine ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Ridge Area ◽

Caribbean Pine ◽

Pinus Caribaea Morelet

The dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium hawksworthii D. Wiens & C. G. Shaw (Viscaceae) has only been reported from the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Belize (1). We observed this dwarf mistletoe parasitizing its principal host, Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis (Senecl.) Barrett & Golf.) (1), 10 km east of Gualaco, Department Olancho, Honduras (elevation 800 m). Several trees were severely infected, and some dwarf mistletoe-associated mortality was observed at this location. The identification of A. hawksworthii was confirmed by comparing specimens collected from Honduras with specimens from Belize, which are deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. The mistletoes Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt and P. pinicola Kuijt (Loranthaceae) were also observed at this location parasitizing Caribbean pine. However, infection by both of these mistletoes was not severe, and no mistletoe-associated mortality was observed. Specimens of these mistletoes from Caribbean pine have been deposited at the Herbario, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales, Siguatepeque, Honduras. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. hawksworthii from Honduras and extends its range approximately 350 km to the east-southeast of the Mountain Pine Ridge in Belize. This is also the first report P. angustifolius on Caribbean pine, but P. pinicola commonly infects this host in northern Honduras and Belize (2). References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf mistletoes: biology, pathology, and systematics. Agric. Handb. 709, 1996. (2) J. Kuijt. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 74:511, 1987.

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First Report of Arceuthobium aureum subsp. aureum in Mexico

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-91-4-0469b ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 91 (4) ◽

pp. 469-469

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

B. Howell ◽

G. Garnett

Keyword(s):

Type Locality ◽

Flowering Period ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Spp

The golden dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium aureum Hawksw. & Wiens subsp. aureum, Viscaceae) parasitizes several pines (Pinus spp., Pinaceae) in central Guatemala (1). In September 2006, we observed golden dwarf mistletoe parasitizing Pinus maximinoi H.E. Moore in southern Chiapas, Mexico; 1 km west of El Rosario along Mexico Route 211 (15°19′23″N, 92°17′45″W, elevation 1,720m). Golden dwarf mistletoe can be distinguished from the closely related Peterson's dwarf mistletoe (A. aureum Hawksw. & Wiens subsp. petersonii Hawksw. & Wiens) by its smaller shoots, occurrence below 2,200 m in elevation, and flowering period (1). The shoots of the dwarf mistletoe at the El Rosario location were less than 20 cm high and male plants were not flowering. Male plants of Peterson's dwarf mistletoe observed at the type locality and other locations in Chiapas during September were in full flower. Although only 29 trees were infected at this location, infection was severe on 11 trees, but no mortality associated with dwarf mistletoe infection was observed. Mistletoe infection did not induce the formation of witches'-brooms near El Rosario, but infection by golden dwarf mistletoe on P. maximinoi does induce witches'-brooms on older trees in Guatemala (2). The golden dwarf mistletoe population near El Rosario is approximately 150 km west of the nearest known population of this species in Guatemala (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of golden dwarf mistletoe in Mexico. Specimens of golden dwarf mistletoe from Chiapas, Mexico were deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession No. 83122). References: (1) F. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Systematics, and Pathology. USDA For. Serv. Agric. Handb. 709, 1996. 2) R. Mathiasen et al. Madrono 23:122, 2004.

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