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Allele Pa LAR3B in root rot resistance locus does not influence the infection pressure by Heterobasidion parviporum through root contacts
Author(s) -
Terhonen Eeva,
Kashif Muhammad,
Piri Tuula,
Haapanen Matti,
Hantula Jarkko
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
forest pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1439-0329
pISSN - 1437-4781
DOI - 10.1111/efp.12769
Subject(s) - biology , root rot , inoculation , horticulture , picea abies , locus (genetics) , genotype , pathogen , botany , colonization , conidium , veterinary medicine , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , medicine
The most destructive root rot pathogen of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) in Finland is Heterobasidion parviporum . After primary infection, this pathogen spreads from tree to tree through root contacts and eventually causes high levels of root and stem rot. Locus Pa LAR3 has been associated with root rot resistance of Norway spruce, and higher resistance in Norway spruce against H. parviporum has been noted when trees have allele Pa LAR3B instead of the more common Pa LAR3A. In this study we tested if trees with homo‐ or heterozygous Pa LAR3B allele can better resist the infection through root contacts. The study was established in 2018 in a site where spruce trees had grown at a dense spacing for 10 years. The 72 trees were cut down and a mixture of four H. parviporum strains was inoculated on the stumps. After 3 years, 459 trees surrounding the inoculated stumps were harvested and analysed. Based on the presence of conidiospores, forty percent (40%) of the trees were infected by H. parviporum . The homozygous Pa LAR3B genotype was found only in 1% of the trees. There were no differences in infection rates between the genotypes AA and AB (or BB). Similarly, the distance from inoculated stump or the diameter of the tree did not influence the infection rate.