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Dieback and death of larch caused by Ceratocystis laricicola sp. nov. following attack by Ips cembrae
Author(s) -
REDFERN D. B.,
STOAKLEY J. T.,
STEELE H.,
MINTER D. W.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3059.1987.tb02264.x
Subject(s) - ceratocystis , biology , larch , botany , bark (sound) , bark beetle , fungus , cambium , ecology , xylem , curculionidae
Circumstantial and experimental evidence suggests that the bark beetle Ips cembrae acts as a vector for Ceratocystis laricicola sp. nov. which it introduces into larches during breeding attacks. The fungus kills bark and cambium, and invades the sapwood causing the formation of areas of ‘blue stain’ surrounded by dry wood. Multiple inoculations resulting from numerous beetle attacks may totally disrupt conduction causing dieback and death of whole trees. Attacks seem frequently to be associated with drought and other forms of stress. Trees damaged by I. cembrae and C. laricicola may be attacked subsequently by the woodwasp Urocerus gigas which introduces a sapwood decay fungus, Amylostereum chailletii. This is the first record of an association between I. cembrae and a species of Ceratocystis and the first record of dieback in larch caused by I. cembrae and C. laricicola. I. cembrae was introduced into Britain from mainland Europe and a similar association may occur there.