Forest Pathology (2009) 39, 279-288

S.E. Askew, S.F. Shamoun and B.J. van der Kamp (2009)
An in vitro method for screening Colletotrichum gloeosporioides as a biological control agent for western hemlock dwarf mistletoe
Forest Pathology 39 (4), 279-288
Abstract: An in vitro system using detached western hemlock branches infected with dwarf mistletoe was developed to screen the virulence of five isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a hyperparasite of dwarf mistletoe shoots and berries. Detached branches infected with dwarf mistletoe were placed in nutrient-saturated rock-wool blocks and mistletoe shoots were inoculated with a conidial suspension of C. gloeosporioides. One month after inoculation, lesions on mistletoe stems and berries were well developed. Infection levels for individual isolates varied from 40% to 60% of shoots and 60% to 80% of berries. Significant differences were found between the isolates and control (p = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively) while no differences were noted between the isolates for both the shoots and berries. Parallel inoculation of mistletoe shoots detached from hemlock branches on moist filter paper and in rock-wool blocks failed because these shoots deteriorated rapidly, fragmenting into segments within a week. This in vitro test may provide an alternative method for rapid screening of potentially virulent C. gloeosporioides isolates.
(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): Simon Francis Shamoun

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Arceuthobium tsugense (weed)
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (weed pathogen)	Arceuthobium tsugense (weed)