Plant Pathology (2006) 55, 130-136

J.M. Sakamoto and T.R. Gordon (2006)
Factors influencing infection of mechanical wounds by Fusarium circinatum on Monterey pines (Pinus radiata)
Plant Pathology 55 (1), 130-136
Abstract: Pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum, is a disease affecting many pine tree species. In California, Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) is the principal pine host affected by pitch canker. This investigation into factors affecting infection frequency by F. circinatum of P. radiata examined the influence of: (i) wound size; (ii) relative humidity; (iii) time of inoculation; (iv) inoculum density; and (v) wound age. Wounded branches sustained significantly more infections when large-diameter (1.6 mm) rather than small-diameter (0.5 mm) wounds were made. Infection frequencies tended to be higher at 100% RH than at ambient humidity, although these differences were not statistically significant. Infection frequencies were significantly higher on branches inoculated after 17·00 h than on branches inoculated before noon. Infection frequencies were significantly higher for wounded branches spray-inoculated with 5 × 10⁷ rather than 1 × 10⁷ spores mL^-1. Infection frequencies of pruning wounds declined as wounds aged.
(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): Thomas R. Gordon

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium circinatum	Pine (Pinus)	U.S.A. (SW)