Dieback of managed spruce stands in western Germany promotes beetle diversity

Biodiversity loss is a significant problem at a global scale and may be amplified by climate change.In recent years,coniferous forests have had substantial die-back across Europe due to drought and subsequent bark-beetle outbreaks.As many studies on the consequences of disturbance and subsequent management have focused on natural stands,management implications for managed spruce stands are not well understood,even though such stands are widespread throughout Europe.In this study,beetle taxonomy,conservation value,and community com-position are compared among spruce plantations and four post-disturbance management approaches:standing dead-wood,lying deadwood,clear cuts,and long-term succession.Diversity and community composition differed significantly among management categories,while different beetle fami-lies responded similarly.Intact spruce stands harbored the lowest beetle diversity while the highest taxonomic diver-sity and conservation value was on clear cuts and stands with lying or standing deadwood.The proportion of forest specialists was highest in successional forests.In summary,different forest management categories harbored distinct beetle communities at the family-,species-,and ecological guild levels.Therefore,post-disturbance management should consider the landscape scale and include different management types.This enhances landscape heterogeneity and thus overall biodiversity but could also mitigate negative impacts of natural disturbances on ecosystem services.

Comparative tree-ring anatomy of Fraxinus excelsior with Chalara dieback

We tested the hypothesis that the biometrical characters of wood elements in ash trees(Fraxinus excelsior L.) become modified in response to the progression of disease caused by Chalara fraxinea. Anatomical analyses were performed on wood samples collected at breast height from the trunks of groups of ash trees which contained healthy, weakened and dead trees. We measured(1) treering width,(2) earlywood vessel diameter,(3) earlywood vessel element length,(4) fibre length,(5) fibre diameter,(6) fibre lumen diameter, and(7) fibre wall thickness. We showed that tree-ring width diminished in all analysed groups during disease progression. However, the greatest suppression of growth was observed in dead trees. In both weakened and dead ash trees, the reduction in tree-ring width was accompanied by diminished vessel diameter in the earlywood of the outermost annual rings. The annual rings of dead trees had shorter fibres having greater lumen diameter and thinner cell walls. Consequently, water conduction in the sapwood of dead ash trees was less efficient owing to reduced vessel diameter, and this seems to be one of the greatest disease-induced morphological modifications. All the anatomical modifications might be due to leaf loss and crown dieback triggered by Chalara fraxinea.

First Report of Botryosphaeria dothidea Causing Sweet Osmanthus Leaf Dieback in China

Sweet osmanthus is one of the ten traditional famous flowers in China.The occurrence of the diseases caused by fungi other than Botryosphaeria spp.has been reported mainly from China on sweet osmanthus.A leaf dieback of sweet osmanthus caused by Botryosphaeria sp.was found for the first time in 2007 in Nanning City,Guangxi,China.The objectives of the present study were to isolate and characterize the causal organism of sweet osmanthus leaf dieback.The fungus was isolated from the lesions of affected sweet osmanthus leaves and its pathogenicity to sweet osmanthus was confirmed using a detached-leaf-inoculation method.The identification of the pathogen was carried out mainly based on the morphological characters and molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer （ITS） sequences.The morphological characters of the pathogenic isolate GHX6 were agreed with that of Botryosphaeria dothidea.The ITS sequence of the isolate was amplified with primers ITS1 and ITS4,and submitted to GenBank （accession no.GQ368251）.Molecular analysis based on ITS sequence comparison between the isolate GHX6 and the other related fungi derived from GenBank supported that the causal agent of the sweet osmanthus leaf dieback belonged to Botryosphaeria dothidea.This is the first report of Botryosphaeria dothidea causing leaf dieback on sweet osmanthus in China.

Linking morphological and ecophysiological leaf traits to canopy dieback in Persian oak trees from central Zagros

Intraspecific variability in morphological and ecophysiological leaf traits might be theorized to be present in declining populations,since they seem to be exposed to stress and plasticity could be advantageous.Here we focused on declining Persian oaks(Quercus brantii Lindl.var.persica(Jaub and Spach)Zohary)in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran,representing the most important tree species of this region.We selected trees with contrasting crown dieback,from healthy to severely defoliated,to investigate the relationships between canopy dieback and leaf morphology,water content and pigments.We also measured esterase and peroxidase,as enzymatic antioxidants and indicators of contrasting genotypes.Trees showing moderate to severe defoliation showed higher leaf mass area(LMA),reduced relative water content(RWC),and lower stomatal density(SD).Increasing LMA indicates a more sclerophyllic structure,according to drier conditions.We did not find significant differences in leaf pigments(chlorophyll a and b,and carotenoids)among crown dieback classes,suggesting that Persian oak trees are able to maintain accurate photochemical efficiency,while reduced RWC and SD suggest hydraulic limitations.Our results do not provide a consistent pattern as regards enzymatic antioxidant defense in Persian oak.Morphological leaf traits would be important drivers of future adaptive evolution in Persian oak,leading to smaller and thicker leaves,which have fitness benefits in dry environments.Nonetheless,drought responses may be critically affecting carbon uptake,as photosynthetic compounds are less effectively used in leaves with higher sclerophylly.

Major constraints on shisham(Dalbergia sissoo) plantations and pathological debate on dieback disease in Punjab,Pakistan

Today,shisham plantations in Punjab,Pakistan face major constraints,especially dieback disease.This article reviews the multidisciplinary team work by forest and plant pathologists and economists to resolve the confusions in the pathology of dieback disease.It is intended to be of practical use to the foresters and plant pathologists reporting on this issue.

The Relationship of the Sapstreak Fungus, <i>Ceratocystis virescens</i>, to Sugar Maple Dieback and Decay in Northern Michigan

Unusually high levels of dieback have recently been reported in sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marsh., in Upper Michigan, and a network of plots was established to determine the extent and factors associated with the dieback. A possible contributor to this dieback is sapstreak disease caused by Ceratocystis virescens (Davidson) Moreau. Unhealthy trees with considerable crown dieback were evaluated across the western Upper Peninsula, MI to determine the prevalence of the sapstreak fungus using a minimally destructive sampling technique. Approximately 8% of 90 trees sampled were sapstreak positive and approximately 10% of trees were positive at one site that had recently been harvested. While the high levels of maple dieback present in these forests appear not to be directly caused by widespread sapstreak disease, the occurrence of sapstreak may be significantly impacting trees at some locations. However, even when present on a low number of trees, the biointeraction of sapstreak and decay rates from other fungi could be important for future tree mortality and value to the forest industry. Therefore, the effect of two sapstreak fungal isolates on the amount of decay caused by two common maple white rot fungi, Trametes versicolor (L.:Fr.) Pilat. And Irpex lacteus (Fr.:Fr.) Fr. was tested in the laboratory. Sugar maple wood blocks were precolonized by two native isolates of C. virescens followed by inoculation and incubation with decay fungi. Mean percent weight loss of blocks by white rot decay fungi ranged from 39% to 55%, but decay rates were not significantly affected by the presence of the sapstreak fungus.

Assessment of forest dieback on the Moroccan Central Plateau using spectral vegetation indices

Cork oak forests in Morocco are rich in resources and services thanks to their great biological diversity,playing an important ecological and socioeconomic role.Considerable degradation of the forests has been accentuated in recent years by signifi cant human pressure and eff ects of climate change;hence,the health of the stands needs to be monitored.In this study,the Google Engine Earth platform was leveraged to extract the normalized diff erence vegetation index(NDVI)and soil-adjusted vegetation index,from Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS satellite images between 2015 and 2017 to assess the health of the Sibara Forest in Morocco.Our results highlight the importance of interannual variations in NDVI in forest monitoring;the variations had a signifi cantly high relationship(p<0.001)with dieback severity.NDVI was positively and negatively correlated with mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature with respective coeffi cients of 0.49 and−0.67,highlighting its ability to predict phenotypic changes in forest species.Monthly interannual variation in NDVI between 2016 and 2017 seemed to confi rm fi eld observations of cork oak dieback in 2018,with the largest decreases in NDVI(up to−38%)in December in the most-aff ected plots.Analysis of the infl uence of ecological factors on dieback highlighted the role of substrate as a driver of dieback,with the most severely aff ected plots characterized by granite-granodiorite substrates.

Dieback intensity but not functional and taxonomic diversity indices predict forest productivity in different management conditions: Evidence from a semi-arid oak forest ecosystem

The relationships between different aspects of diversity(taxonomic,structural and functional)and the aboveground biomass(AGB)as a major component of global carbon balance have been studied extensively but rarely under the simultaneous influence of forest dieback and management.In this study,we investigate the relationships between taxonomic,functional and structural diversity of woody species(trees and shrubs)and AGB along a gradient of dieback intensity(low,moderate,high and no dieback as control)under two contrasted management conditions(protection by central government vs.traditional management by natives)in a semi-arid oak(Quereus brantii Lindl.)forest ecosystem.AGB was estimated and taxonomic diversity,community weighted average(CWM)and functional divergence indices were produced.We found that the aerial biomass was significantly higher in the intensively used area(14.57(±1.60)t/hm^(2))than in the protected area(8.70(±1.05)t/hm^(2))due to persistence of some large trees but with decreasing values along the dieback intensity gradient in both areas.CWM of height(H),leaf nitrogen content(LNC)and leaf dry matter content(LDMC)were also higher in the traditional managed area than in the protected area.In contrast,in the protected area,the woody species diversity was higher and the inter-specific competition was more intense,explaining a reduced H,biomass and LDMC.Contrary to the results of CWM,none of the functional diversity traits(FDvar)was affected by dieback intensity and only FDvar values of LNC,leaf phosphorus content(LPC)and LDMC were influenced by management.We also found significantly positive linear relationships of AGB with CWM and FDvar indices in the protected area,and with taxonomic and structural diversity indices in the traditional managed area.These results emphasize that along a dieback intensity gradient,the leaf functional traits are efficient predictors in estimating the AGB in protected forests,while taxonomic and structural indices provide better results in forests under a high human pressure.Finally,species identity of the dominant species(i.e.,Brant’s oak)proves to be the main driver of AGB,supporting the selection effect hypothesis.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Resolution of Diplodia neojuniperi Emerging Diplodia Top Dieback of Pinus thunbergii Parl. in China

In Bazhong City,Sichuan Province,China,top dieback symptoms were found on many pine trees(Pinus thunbergii Parl).The tips of old needles first turned grayish-green and then developed into brown bands in the field.Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated ITS and EF1-αindicated the pathogen of this dieback disease as Diplodia neojuniperi.Additionally,effects of temperature,pH and medium on the mycelial growth were also characterized.The most favorable temperature and pH level for mycelial growth are 25°C and 8,respectively.The optimal medium for mycelial growth is PDA medium.To our knowledge,this is the first report of D.neojuniperi causes Diplodia top dieback on Pinus thunbergii.Our results provide fundamental information for monitoring and preventing such disease in the future.

Forest Fairy Ring Fungi <i>Clitocybe nebularis</i>, Soil <i>Bacillus</i>spp., and Plant Extracts Exhibit <i>in Vitro</i>Antagonism on Dieback <i>Phytophthora</i>Species

In vitro Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion assays coupled with bio-imaging software techniques were used to assess native forest dwelling “fairy ring” forming fungi (Clitocybe nebularis) and co-habitant forest tree-root colonising non pathogenic, antibiotic producing bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilis) for their antagonism towards Japanese larch dieback oomycetes phytopathogens which also affects ornamental alternative hosts. The aqueous extracts of C. nebularis exhibited the highest clearance (inhibitory) zone of 21.4 × 105 pixels = 573%) against Phytophthora ramorum than growth/clear zone Cartesian integrates recorded in untreated (control) disc (3.7 × 105 pixels = 100%) over 3-day incubation. The fairy ring fungal extracts also exhibited substantive antagonism against P. kernoviae (147%), P. lateralis (347%) and a solanaceous crop infecting P. infestans (86%). Quite encouragingly, the soil oomycete phytopathogen P. ramorum was inhibited strongly (mean ~ 177%) by both forest bacilli. Aqueous extracts of non-forest antifungal herbaceous plants (garlic and elderberry) expressed similar inhibitory effects (mean ~ 70%). A seaweed fungal elicitor component fucoidan showed moderate levels (mean ~ 85%) of antagonism against P. ramorum, P. kernoviae, P. lateralis and P. infestans. The results in this in vitro study highlight the intensity and vigor of antagonistic forest microflora and non-forest herbaceous antifungal agents such as garlic and other plant extracts as serious candidates for suppression of the oomycete Phytophthora pathogenic fungi in forest soils. This study calls for urgent scoping and impact assessment studies in pot experiments and mini-plot forest trials to gauge the fitness of these natural resources for field level potential biotechnological applications to combat the devastating dieback disease in the native woodlands and horticulture.

Chronic Toxicity Study in Rats Orally Exposed to Mulberry Sea-Buckthorn Beverage Concentrate

Objective: This study is designed to observe the chronic toxicity after the administration of mulberry sea-buckthorn beverage concentrate for 3 months on rats and to predict the possible adverse effect and the potential toxicity target organs. Method: The rats (SPF level) were randomly divided into high-dose (20 mL/kg BW), middle-dose (10 mL/kg BW), low-dose (5 mL/kg BW) groups and negative control group (20 mL/kg BW of purified water) with 30 rats in each group. Each group was orally given mulberry sea-buckthorn beverage concentrate for 3 months and recovered by stop feeding samples for 2 weeks for a recovery observation. The rats’ general condition, the organ coefficient, the indexes of hematology and blood biochemistry and the histological changes of the main organs were determined. Result: The appearance and behavior of activity in rats showed no anomalies in all these groups and all the rats put on weight during this period. Comparing to the negative control group, no obvious differences were observed in the weekly weight and organ coefficient of each dose group. After 3 months of administration, HGB in both mulberry sea-buckthorn beverage concentrate low-dose group and high-dose group were increased. No significant differences were observed in the indexes of hematology after 2 weeks of recovery. CREA in low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose groups were significantly increased after 3 months of administration and it remained in the high level in middle-dose and high-dose group even after 2 weeks of recovery. No drug-related lesions were observed in the histological changes of major organs. Conclusion: The results show that long term use of mulberry concentrated sea-buckthorn beverage can lead to increased CREA, which suggested kidney toxicity. Although no obvious pathological change was found in kidney, we should pay attention to chronic kidney damage in the further research.

First record of Eutypella vitis causing branch dieback on new host trees in Canada

Eutypella vitis is reported for the first time on several new host trees viz.Fagus grandifolia,Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Syringa reticulata with associated branch dieback symptoms in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario,Canada.Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequence data confirmed the species identification.Eutypella vitis is known as a woody plant pathogen causing dieback of grapevines and other economically important fruit trees widely cultivated in Ontario.The fungus ability to infect several alternate new hosts can promote its faster and wider spread across vineyards and consequently increase a dieback hazard to viticulture in Canada.

国槐枝枯病病原菌鉴定及其生物学特性

近年来,枝枯病在我国南疆的发病率高达50%~70%。为明确国槐枝枯病的致病菌及其生物学特性,采用组织分离法对南疆多地的发病国槐枝条进行病原菌分离,并进行致病性测定、形态学和分子生物学鉴定。结果表明,引起国槐枝枯病的病原菌为新暗色柱节孢(Neoscytalidium dimidiatum)。PDA培养基(pH值5.0)、34℃条件最适宜该菌的菌丝生长;PDA培养基(pH值7.0~9.0)、34℃条件最适宜该菌的分生孢子的形成。较低的相对湿度更有利于该菌的分生孢子萌发和生长。以牛肉膏为氮源、甘露糖为碳源最有利于该菌的菌丝生长,以蛋白胨为氮源最适宜该菌分生孢子的产生;而以木糖、山梨糖为碳源,硝态氮、尿素为氮源时,菌丝生长及产孢速率均有所下降。

葡萄VvERF655基因响应可可毛色二孢的表达模式及VvERF655与VvWRKY75的互作

可可毛色二孢Lasiodiplodia theobromae引起的葡萄溃疡病是葡萄上的主要枝干病害之一,对葡萄生产造成巨大影响。课题组前期研究发现葡萄VvWRKY75负调控葡萄溃疡病的发生,共表达网络分析表明,VvERF655基因与VvWRKY75共表达。为明确VvERF655是否参与葡萄对葡萄溃疡病的调控过程,本研究克隆了VvERF655,运用生物信息学对VvERF655的理化性质等进行分析,并通过RT-qPCR对VvERF655基因的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,VvERF655响应L.theobromae侵染并明显受脱落酸、水杨酸激素诱导。通过酵母双杂交技术分析发现,VvWRKY75与VvERF655在酵母中存在互作关系。以上结果表明,VvERF655可能参与寄主对可可毛色二孢的侵染以及激素调控过程。本研究为进一步揭示葡萄VvERF655基因的生物学功能奠定基础。

防治沙棘枝枯病药剂筛选

以市售各类杀菌剂为供试药剂,以沙棘枝枯病菌和发病严重的沙棘树为作用对象,采用生长速率法和田间喷施法,研究了5种药剂对沙棘枝枯病菌的室内抑菌作用,并将有效药剂进行毒力测定和田间防效试验,以期为沙棘枝枯病的快速防治提供参考依据。结果表明:4种化学农药50%百菌清WP、70%甲基硫菌灵、25%丙环唑乳油、70%百菌清WP和1种微生物农药寡雄腐霉对沙棘枝枯病菌具有明显杀菌作用。25%丙环唑乳油、70%百菌清WP和寡雄腐霉具有良好的抑菌效果,抑菌率在80%以上,药效期也比较长,达7 d以上。其中,25%丙环唑乳油的毒性最好,其次是寡雄腐霉,70%百菌清WP最差。田间防效试验表明,3种农药都可有效控制沙棘枝枯病的发生,施药后的发病率明显低于对照(P<0.05),防治效果达70%以上。因此,这3种药剂可以在生产上推广使用,以快速有效防治沙棘枝枯病。

甘肃省河西走廊沙棘枝枯病发生初报

为明确甘肃省河西走廊沙棘枝枯病的发生与为害情况,采用定点、定期观察和大面积调查相结合的方法,对河西地区沙棘上发生的枝枯病进行系统调查与分析。结果表明,该病主要为害枝干,严重时造成枝干枯死或树体死亡。经调查,气候条件是引起该病害发生流行的主要诱因,其次是树势衰弱。通常春季气温回升早、降雨早,发病早而且严重,降雨越多,发病越严重;一般沙棘枝枯病发病适温为25℃左右,温度低于20℃和高于30℃都不利于病害的发生。新老沙棘混栽林、管理粗放、结果量大,发病严重。另外,沙棘枝枯病发生严重会造成树皮伤口多而深,为沙棘干缩病菌的侵入提供了有利途径,因此,一般沙棘枝枯病发生严重的树林干缩病发生相对也比较严重。经调查研究分析,初步确定沙棘枝枯病是沙棘树上新发生的一种枝枯病,病害的发生总体呈逐年加重的趋势。

多效唑对杨梅枯枝病的影响及防治

检测分析不同剂量多效唑施用后在杨梅叶片、根部、果实的残留情况,以及对叶片色泽、根系、果实品质的影响；综合分析多效唑与杨梅枯枝病发生的因果关系.并针对枯枝病发生特点,利用自主研发的混配药物进行综合防治试验,并对治愈植株果实的农药残留进行随机检测.结果表明,重度、中度、轻度发病树叶片、根部多效唑含量差异显著,分别为叶片439.00,25.60,13.20μg/kg ,根部266.00,3.38,1.20μg/kg ,发病程度越高残留量越大；果实中均未检测到多效唑残留；500 mg/kg 高质量分数的多效唑处理使杨梅叶片气孔密度增大,气孔面积减小；T1（200 mg/kg）,T2（300 mg/kg）,T3（500 mg/kg）3个质量分数的多效唑连续施用与植株枯枝病轻度、中度、重度发生相对应,呈正相关；利用自主研发的混配药物对枯枝病发病植株进行防治效果显著.轻度发病树经3年连续治理后基本恢复正常生长,死树率为0,而作为对照的发病率为74.7％、死树率为21.6％；中度发病树治愈率均分别达90％以上,对照发病率为100％；严重发病树治愈率均在50％以上,对照在4年后全部死亡.经综合防治后恢复正常生长的植株果实的农药残留显著降低,克百威、甲胺磷、氧乐果和溴氰菊酯4个农药残留指标低于国家无公害标准的1～5倍,重金属铅的含量低于国家无公害标准的8倍.总之,多效唑施用后对杨梅可产生不可逆的影响,即多效唑（中高浓度多次施用）—树势早衰—拟盘多毛孢菌寄生侵染—枯枝病出现—枯枝死树—病菌扩大繁殖并加速传播,形成恶性循环,导致枯枝死树连续发生.而利用笔者的专利技术尽早采取综合防治效果明显.

大米草(Spartina anglica)自然衰退种群对N、P添加的生态响应

通过对外来植物大米草(Spartina anglica)自然衰退种群进行N肥、P肥和N-P复合肥不同梯度水平的添加,分析大米草的生长指标差异及其生理生态响应。结果表明:N、P添加后使大米草种群株高均有不同程度的增加,肥效强弱依次为N肥、P肥、N-P肥;叶片数、主根数及总生物量均显著增加(p<0.05)。除N肥外,其它处理的叶片面积和厚度与对照没有显著差异。3种肥源的添加均显著提高了大米草自然衰退种群的光合速率(p<0.05);N和N-P肥均以高浓度效果最显著,但P肥却以中浓度效果最强;光合速率分别比对照增加19.08μmol·m-2·s-1、11.23μmol·m-2·s-1和15.47μmol·m-2·s-1;14d淡水淹没后,肥源添加使大米草自然衰退种群的SOD和POD酶活性增强;中浓度N和中浓度P添加使SOD活性增加最显著,分别比对照增加320.74unit·g-1和134.54unit·g-1;高浓度N和高浓度N-P肥添加使POD酶活性最显著增加。N肥添加可以显著改善大米草自然衰退种群生长生理特性,可以推断大米草种群的衰退与我国海岸带土壤营养中N素营养的限制有一定的相关性。

桉树红叶枯梢病防治试验初报

桉树红叶枯梢病可施用硼、铜、锌等微量元素进行有效防治。设计了6种处理。其中,硼砂10 g+硫酸铜5 g组合对树高生长促进作用较大;硼砂10 g+硫酸铜5 g+硫酸锌5 g组合对减少丛枝以及减少红叶率效果较明显。春季施放效果好于秋冬季。春季施用20 d后就见效,50 d后病状基本消失,树体基本恢复健康。

中国葡萄主要品种对葡萄座腔菌的抗性评价

采用离体有伤接种绿枝条的方法分析了我国25个葡萄主要品种对葡萄座腔菌Botryosphaeria dothidea的抗/感程度并建立了抗性分级标准。根据接种发病后的病斑长度,利用系统聚类方法鉴定不同葡萄品种对葡萄座腔菌的抗性并进行分级,建立了葡萄对葡萄座腔菌的抗性评价方法和抗性分级标准。结果表明,我国25个主要葡萄品种对葡萄座腔菌的抗性存在明显差异,‘巨峰’、‘红宝石无核’、‘藤稔’、‘红地球’、‘香妃’、‘玫瑰香’、‘巨玫瑰’、‘霞多丽’、‘龙眼’、‘西拉’、‘品丽珠’、‘贝达’、‘峰后’、‘梅鹿辄’、‘美人指’、‘赤霞珠’和‘山葡萄洛桑’等17个品种对葡萄座腔菌表现为抗病,‘弗蕾无核’、‘5BB’、‘夏黑’和‘无核白鸡心’表现为感病,而‘维多利亚’、‘牛奶’、‘矢富罗莎’和‘摩尔多瓦’表现为高感。