Cyclaneusma needlecast and needle retention in scots pine

W. Merrill, N. G. Wenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Portions of two Pennsylvania Pinus sylvestris Christmas tree plantations, each of a different provenance, were left untreated or treated repeatedly with fungicide to prevent infection of the 1990, 1991, and 1992 needle complements by Cyclaneusma minus. Periodically from July 1990 to August 1992, incidence of infection by C. minus was determined by direct isolation from needles of the 1990 and 1991 complements of permanent sample trees within each treatment block. Treatment with fungicide significantly increased retention of third-year needles, but not of second-year needles of these provenances. Fungicide treatment also significantly increased the proportions of trees retaining more than 50% of their third-year needles. Retentions of third-year and second-year needles on individual trees were not correlated and varied greatly among individual trees regardless of infection by C. minus. Results indicate a host genetic factor independently affecting needle retention in Scots pine, upon which are superimposed the effects of Cyclaneusma needlecast, and which has confounded all previous evaluations of the impact of this disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)294-298
Number of pages5
JournalPlant disease
Volume80
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Plant Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cyclaneusma needlecast and needle retention in scots pine'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this