Botany (2009) 87, 43-48

Tod D. Ramsfield, Simon F. Shamoun and Bart J. van der Kamp (2009)
The phenology and impact of Caliciopsis arceuthobii on lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium americanum
Botany 87 (1), 43-48
Abstract: Arceuthobium americanum Nuttal ex Engelmann in Gray (lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe) causes significant losses to the timber industry. The fungus Caliciopsis arceuthobii (Peck) Barr shows high specificity to Arceuthobium spp., and therefore infection of A. americanum was monitored for 4 years to determine the effect of this fungus on fruit production. The contribution of stand-level and locally produced inoculum in the infection process was also studied to better understand the epidemiology of the pathogen. Over the period of the study, C. arceuthobii caused an average annual fruit reduction of 58%. When the contribution of local and stand-level inoculum was modelled, the results suggested that on A. americanum infections with > 4 ascospore-producing immature fruit, more than half of the new C. arceuthobii infections on the same plant are derived from locally produced ascospores. The effect of the fungus on the host suggests that it has potential as a biological control agent for A. americanum, and further studies are needed to attempt to induce inoculum production in culture.
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Simon Francis Shamoun

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Arceuthobium americanum (weed)	Pine (Pinus)
Caliciopsis arceuthobii (weed pathogen)	Arceuthobium americanum (weed)	Pine (Pinus)