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The effect of P hlebiopsis gigantea and urea stump treatment against spore infection of H eterobasidion spp. on hybrid larch ( L arix × eurolepis ) in southern S weden
Author(s) -
Wang L.Y,
Pålsson H.,
Ek E.,
Rönnberg J.
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1439-0329.2012.00777.x
Subject(s) - larch , biology , spore , gigantea , botany , horticulture , urea , heterobasidion annosum , larix gmelinii , picea abies , biochemistry
Summary The efficacy of stump treatment with 40% urea solution and spore suspension of P hlebiopsis gigantea against primary infection by H eterobasidion spp. on hybrid larch ( L arix × eurolepis ) was tested in two field studies in southern S weden. In the first study, stumps treated with urea or P . gigantea were sampled by cutting a cross‐section disc after 3 months following exposure to natural conditions, and in the second study, stumps treated with only P . gigantea were sampled after 2 months. Spore traps made from hybrid larch, N orway spruce ( P icea abies ) and S cots pine ( P inus sylvestris ) were used to estimate the abundance of ambient spores of H eterobasidion spp. in the second study. Urea significantly reduced infection frequency of H eterobasidion spp. compared to the control. P hlebiopsis gigantea was less effective at reducing infection frequency in the first study than in the second study. Infections were caused by both H . parviporum and H . annosum sensu stricto . The amount of H . annosum infection in proportion to H eterobasidion spp. was significantly lower on the stumps treated with P . gigantea compared to the control; however, the proportion of H . parviporum on the treated stumps was not higher than the control in the first study. Spore traps made of S cots pine had a significantly higher frequency of infection than N orway spruce and hybrid larch. Only the spore traps made of hybrid larch showed significant correlation with the control stumps in terms of relative infected area. Conclusively, it seems prudent to protect hybrid larch stumps from primary infection by H eterobasidion spp., and both urea and P . gigantea can be recommended as stump treatment agents on hybrid larch, even if urea seemed to present more stable results.