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Dry mass production in seedlings of Norway spruce infected by the needle rust Chrysomyxa rhododendri
Author(s) -
Plattner K.,
Volgger W.,
Oberhuber W.,
Mayr S.,
Bauer H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of forest pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1439-0329
pISSN - 0300-1237
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0329.1999.00168.x
Subject(s) - picea abies , biology , dry weight , rust (programming language) , shoot , afforestation , horticulture , growing season , botany , agronomy , ecology , computer science , programming language
Summary The aim of this study was to assess the losses in productivity of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) due to the attack by Chrysomyxa rhododendri , a rust that only penetrates new developing flushes. Three‐year‐old seedlings were artificially infected once or twice in two consecutive years and the dry mass was determined at the end of the growing season. Dry mass accumulation of all parts including roots was significantly reduced if more than about one‐third of the young foliage was infected. Shoot and root dry mass of once severely infected seedlings were 32 and 48% less than that of controls. This deficit could not be compensated during a following rust‐free year. When seedlings were infected in two consecutive years, dry mass accumulation was reduced by 58% compared with controls. Results indicate that rejuvenation of and afforestation with Norway spruce can seriously be impaired by Chrysomyxa at the alpine timberline where Rhododendron sp. (the telial host of the parasite) is widespread.