First Report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on Pines in Mexico and Guatemala

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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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 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 hondurense on Pinus tecunumannii

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2000.84.3.372c ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 84 (3) ◽

pp. 372-372

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

J. Beatty ◽

J. Melgar

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

East Side ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Shoot Production ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Oocarpa ◽

Celaque National Park

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 and Sruthanthus deppeanus in Nicaragua

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-1458c ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (11) ◽

pp. 1458-1458

Author(s):

R. Mathiasen ◽

A. Sediles ◽

S. Sesnie

Keyword(s):

Central America ◽

New World ◽

Plant Disease ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

First Report ◽

Northern Arizona ◽

Northern Arizona University ◽

Pinus Tecunumanii ◽

San Fernando

The Honduran dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens (Viscaceae), is one of the rarest dwarf mistletoes known in Central America (1,2). It is only known from four general areas in Honduras, but has also been reported from three locations in southern Mexico (2,3). At one time, A. hondurense was thought to be in danger of extinction (1). During March 2006, we found three new populations of this rare dwarf mistletoe in the Cordillera Dipilto in northern Nicaragua (Department Nueva Segovia). One population was approximately 11 km northeast of San Fernando (13°44′55″N, 86°19′07″W; elevation 1,130 m), the second population was approximately 9 km north of Mozonte (13°44′09″N, 86°24′54″W; elevation 1,415 m), and the third population was approximately 6 km southwest of Depilto (13°42′51″N, 86°32′22″W; elevation 1,340 m). Honduran dwarf mistletoe was parasitizing Pinus tecunumanii Equiluz & J.P. Perry at each of these locations, and at the Mozonte population, it was also infecting P. oocarpa Schiede ex Schlecht. Only a few pines were infected at each of these localities and no pine mortality associated with dwarf mistletoe infection was observed. However, even lightly infected trees had large witches' brooms and some trees were severely broomed. These populations are 50 to 65 km southeast of the nearest population of Honduran dwarf mistletoe in Honduras and they represent the southern most populations of Arceuthobium spp. in the New World (1). The mistletoe, Struthanthus deppeanus (Cham. & Schlecht.) Bl. (Loranthaceae), also parasitizes pines in Central America and southern Mexico (3). We observed this mistletoe parasitizing P. tecunumanii at the San Fernando location described above, on P. oocarpa approximately 7 km north of Mozonte (13°43′57″N, 86°24′49″W; elevation 1,490 m), and on P. oocarpa approximately 3 km southwest of Dipilto (13°43′40″N, 86°31′56″W; elevation 1,170 m). Again, only a few pines were infected at each of these locations, and we did not observe pine mortality associated with infection by S. deppeanus. S. deppeanus does not cause the formation of witches' brooms on infected pines, but the mistletoe plants are often greater than 1 m long so they are easily observed. This mistletoe was most common southwest of Depilto. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. hondurense and S. deppeanus in Nicaragua. Specimens of A. hondurense and S. deppeanus from Nicaragua have been deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession Nos. 81561–81567). References: (1) F. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. Dwarf mistletoes: Biology, pathology, and systematics. USDA For. Serv. Agric. Handb. 709, 1996; (2) R. Mathiasen and J. Melgar, Plant Disease 90:685, 2006; (3) R. Mathiasen et al. Madrono 50:115, 2003.

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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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