scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPAGATION PROGRAM FOR BEECH BARK DISEASE-RESISTANT AMERICAN BEECH (FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA) AND AN APPLIED RESTORATION PLAN FOR MITIGATION OF BEECH BARK DISEASE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ande Myers
2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ramirez ◽  
J. Loo ◽  
M. J. Krasowski

Abstract Scions collected from diseased trees and from those without symptoms of beech bark disease (BBD) were cleft-grafted in 2003 and 2004 onto rootstock of unknown resistance to BBD. Grafting success varied among genotypes and year (30% in 2003 and 12% in 2004), and improved with increasing rootstock diameter. Successful grafts were used to test resistance to the beech scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga (the initiating agent of BBD) by introducing eggs onto the bark of scions and allowing time for the emergence of all developmental stages of the insects. Significantly fewer insects colonized scions collected from putatively resistant trees than those collected from diseased trees. In some cases, where egg placement overlapped a portion of the rootstock, insect colonies developed on the rootstock but not on the scion collected from resistant trees. Occasionally, scions from putatively resistant trees were colonized, whereas some of those from diseased trees were not. When scions from putatively resistant trees were heavily colonized, only adult insects were present and no eggs or other life stages of the insect were found. The findings indicate that the extent of resistance to the scale insect (hence to BBD) ranges from partial to total resistance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Koch ◽  
David W. Carey ◽  
Mary E. Mason ◽  
C. Dana Nelson

A beech bark disease infested American beech tree ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) and two uninfested trees were selected in a mature natural stand in Michigan, USA, and mated to form two full-sib families for evaluating the inheritance of resistance to beech scale ( Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.), the insect element of beech bark disease. Four half-sib families from both infested and uninfested trees were also evaluated for resistance. Using an artificial infestation technique, adult and egg count data were collected over 2 years and analyzed with generalized linear mixed methods to account for nonnormal distributions of the response variables. A significant effect for family was found for each variable. Family least squares means were computed as a measure of resistance and repeatabilities were calculated to provide an upper limit estimate of broad-sense heritability. The two families that ranked highest for resistance were the full-sib family from two uninfested parents and the half-sib family from a stand where all diseased trees had been removed. Together, the results suggest that selection and breeding may be an effective means to improve populations for artificial regeneration, and silvicultural treatments may provide an effective management option for mitigating beech bark disease through managing the genetic composition of natural regeneration.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Farrar ◽  
William D. Ostrofsky

Abstract Root sprouting following harvesting of American beech has resulted in the development of dense, slow-growing thickets in many stands throughout Maine and the northeastern United States. The problem is compounded by the presence of beech bark disease, as most sprouts arise from roots of disease-susceptible genotypes. Ten-year post-harvest regeneration conditions were examined in a central Maine beech stand harvested in both winter and summer with partial cutting and clearcuts. Initially, sprouts in winter cuts survived longer than those in summer cuts. After 10 years, we found that beech regeneration survival in the winter treatments continued to be higher than in the summer treatments. Disease-resistant American beech of high vigor left in clearcuts without the protection of surrounding trees were highly susceptible to decline and death from exposure. Leaving a small buffer of unharvested trees around resistant beech is recommended.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph D. Nyland ◽  
Amy L. Bashant ◽  
Kimberly K. Bohn ◽  
Jane M. Verostek

Abstract Several woody species may inhibit regeneration of desirable northern hardwoods. This includes a dense understory of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) that commonly occurs in stands infected with beech bark disease. Root injuries during logging and by natural causes alsopromote new suckers that, along with some stump sprouts, often maintain or increase the abundance of beech saplings. Additionally, browsing deer primarily bypass beech in favor of more palatable species. Where any of these factors has resulted in a dense understory of small beech, overstorycutting will promote its development, increase ground-level shading, and lead to a site conversion to beech. Similarly, striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum L.) often interferes with hardwood regeneration after overstory cutting. This species persists in heavy shade, grows rapidly afterrelease, and produces abundant seed. When dense, striped maple may interfere with the regeneration of other species. Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium Marsh.), a shrub, reproduces by rhizomes to form thickets when damaged during overstory cutting. Heavy shade by these thickets may preventregeneration of trees. This review summarizes characteristics of these three species with respect to their interference with desirable hardwoods in northeastern North America. It highlights the limited information about striped maple and hobblebush, and the abundance of sources that deal withAmerican beech.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Wieferich ◽  
Deborah G. McCullough ◽  
Daniel B. Hayes ◽  
Nancy J. Schwalm

Abstract Beech scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.) (Hemiptera; Coccidae), an invasive insect associated with beech bark disease, was discovered in 2000 in a localized area of northwest Lower Michigan and one area in the eastern Upper Peninsula. From 2005 to 2009, we surveyed 809 sites in 73 Michigan counties to determine whether American beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees were present and, if so, whether trees had been colonized by beech scale. Beech trees were present in 696 sites in forest, recreation, and residential areas. By 2009, beech scale had infested beech trees in 8 of 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula, 14 of 68 counties in the Lower Peninsula, one of three islands in Lake Michigan, and all three sampled islands in Lake Huron. Colonization of islands more than 20 km from infestations on the mainland suggest that beech scale was likely introduced by humans or birds. Rates of expansion of 12 discrete beech scale populations varied from 3.3 to 14.3 km per year.


1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Ostrofsky ◽  
W. C. Shortle ◽  
R. O. Blanchard

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianela Ramirez ◽  
Marek J. Krasowski ◽  
Judy A. Loo

The objective of this study was to develop vegetative propagation techniques—using tissue culture and grafting—for American beech (Fagus grandifolia) resistant to beech bark disease. Resterilizing the buds after excising bud scales reduced contamination of in vitro cultures derived from dormant buds. Application of a 7-day dark treatment before transferring shoots to the rooting medium improved rooting success. Plantlets gradually acclimatized to nonsterile growth conditions and set buds but failed to survive the dormant period. The application of 6-benzyladenine enhanced sprouting from roots collected from mature trees, but the excised shoots rooted poorly in vitro despite low contamination. Success of grafting scions from mature trees varied among genotypes and differed each year (30% in 2003, 12% in 2004, and 18% in 2005). Applying the growth hormone indole butyric acid to the scion before joining it to the rootstock did not increase grafting success. Survival of grafts was independent of rootstock age (1 or 2 years old). Grafting success increased when scion diameter was slightly larger than rootstock diameter. The rooting of sucker cuttings was successful for only one genotype. Critical steps, in which most failures in the propagation of American beech occur, are identified.


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