Plant Pathology (2023) 72, 489-498

Leslie A. Holland, Renaud Travadon, Daniel P. Lawrence, Rosa Jaime-Frias, Mohamed T. Nouri, Mohammad Sahtout and Florent P. Trouillas (2023)
Temporal susceptibility of almond pruning wounds to infection by fungal canker pathogens in California
Plant Pathology 72 (3), 489-498
Abstract: Numerous fungal canker pathogens threaten almond production in California, causing high tree mortality and reducing orchard longevity. Pruning wounds are the main infection sites for these pathogens. This study aimed to identify the lowest risk period for pruning almond trees and to determine the duration of susceptibility of pruning wounds to fungal infections. During 2 years at two locations, pruning wounds were made monthly from September to January and inoculated with Botryosphaeria dothidea, Eutypa lata, Neofusicoccum parvum or Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 weeks after pruning. Pruning wounds were susceptible to infection by N. parvum and N. dimidiatum from September to December, with a significant decrease in susceptibility for wounds made in January relative to September. Fresh wounds had the highest probability of infection by N. dimidiatum, as wounds 1 week or older were less likely to be infected. Pruning month did not significantly impact wound susceptibility to B. dothidea; susceptibility decreased sharply with wound age. Wound susceptibility to E. lata significantly differed amongst pruning months, with pruning wounds of 1 week or older made in December and January being the least susceptible. These results indicated that delayed pruning in December and January can reduce the risks of canker pathogen infections compared to early pruning from September to November. This study showed that pruning wounds were most susceptible to infection during the first 2 weeks following pruning; thus, pruning wounds should be protected for at least 2 weeks shortly after pruning.
(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): Renaud Travadon

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.
	Neofusicoccum parvum	Almond (Prunus dulcis)	U.S.A. (SW)
	Neoscytalidium dimidiatum	Almond (Prunus dulcis)	U.S.A. (SW)