Forest Pathology (2001) 31, 209-218

Elena Paoletti, R. Danti and S. Strati (2001)
Pre- and post-inoculation water stress affects Sphaeropsis sapinea canker length in Pinus halepensis seedlings
Forest Pathology 31 (4), 209-218
Abstract: In order to assess the influence of water stress on the development of Sphaeropsis sapinea cankers in Pinus halepensis, the stems of 4- to 5-year-old potted seedlings were artificially inoculated with the fungus before and after being kept at controlled water regimes from April 1997 to March 1998. In the pre-water-stress inoculation experiment, the canker length, measured 5 months after inoculation (September 1997), was greater in seedlings predisposed to extreme water deficit (midday needle water potential between -4.5 and -5.5 MPa). In the post-water-stress inoculation experiment, the fungus was inoculated in April 1998, after irrigation had enabled the seedlings to resume normal needle water potential. In this case also, at 5 months after inoculation, longer cankers were visible in seedlings that had been subjected to extreme water deficit. These findings suggest that the occurrence of marked water stress, although apparently tolerated by Aleppo pine, can enhance the development of S. sapinea cankers in this species, regardless of whether the stress occurs before or after infection by the fungus.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Elena Paoletti

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diplodia sapinea	Pine (Pinus)	Italy