Evaluation of Chestnut Susceptibility to <i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i>: Screening under Controlled Conditions
<i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i> (Murrill) M.E. Barr (Sordariomycetes, Valsaceae) is the causal agent of chestnut blight. This disease is a major concern for chestnut cultivation in Europe. The fungus colonizes vascular tissues and evolves generating cankers causing severe dieback and the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/11/1158 |
| Summary: | <i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i> (Murrill) M.E. Barr (Sordariomycetes, Valsaceae) is the causal agent of chestnut blight. This disease is a major concern for chestnut cultivation in Europe. The fungus colonizes vascular tissues and evolves generating cankers causing severe dieback and the death of the tree. Excised and debarked well-lignified shoots of 28 <i>C. sativa</i> genotypes (assay A) and of 10 progenies (assay B) were inoculated with <i>C. parasitica</i> strain FMT3bc2 (vcg: EU2). Fungal growth was measured along the longitudinal axis on the 3rd and 6th days after inoculation. Results indicated the inoculation methodology works and the results were clear after 6 days. Differences in susceptibility to chestnut blight among <i>C. sativa</i> trees of Montseny have been detected both at the individual genotype level and at the progeny level. Nineteen genotypes and four progenies showed a susceptibility to Blight not significantly different from <i>C. mollissima</i>. The methodology was easy to apply in extensive/preliminary selection screenings to assess the susceptibility of <i>C. sativa</i> materials to the Blight. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-0472 |