REDIA (2011) 94, 159-162

Beatrice Carletti, Alba Cotroneo and Pio Federico Roversi (2011)
Inoculation experiments of Bursaphelenchus eremus Rühm (Goodey) (Nematoda Parasitaphelenchidae) on Quercus robur L.
REDIA 94, 159-162
Abstract: Bursaphelenchus eremus Rühm (Goodey) occurs in declining oak forests of some European countries, although data are lacking on the possibility of the nematode to colonize healthy trees. To evaluate the pathogenicity of the nematode, we carried out an inoculation test in Tuscany (central Italy) in 2007-2008: on May 2007, 32 Quercus robur L. plants (7 years old) were inoculated with an Italian isolate of B. eremus (IT37w) and 16 plants were maintained as controls. There were two inoculation sites on each plant: one immediately below the fresh top shoot and another 30 cm below the first site. All plants were kept outdoors under a zinc-coated cage covered with a cloth. After four months, 16 inoculated plants and eight controls were randomly selected and each stem was cut into three parts, weighed, crushed in a grinder and subjected to Baermann funnel extraction. After 16 months, the remaining 18 inoculated and 6 control plants were chosen and examined with the same procedure. Bursaphelenchus eremus was obtained from the stems of all infected oak trees. The difference was in the number of nematodes/g of fresh wood in the different plant portions both after four (F2,16=86.94) and 16 months (F2,18=400.71). The highest density was always recorded in the fresh top shoot tissue, while no nematode was obtained from the lower stem portion. The RHS (relative host suitability) index value increased from 0.6 (4 months) to 2.1 (16 months) but it was still too low to be accompanied by signs of wilting. Because of the resemblance between B. eremus and the Pine Wood Nematode, we suggest that further experimental studies are needed to evaluate the potential risk of this nematode for different species of oaks common to the Mediterranean area, where the maximum summer temperatures reach the optimal temperature range for B. eremus development.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Pio Federico Roversi

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.
	Bursaphelenchus eremus	Oak (Quercus)	Italy