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Phytophthora Root and Collar Rot of Paulownia, a New Disease for Europe

Authors :
Federico Spada
R. Faedda
Salvatore Moricca
Mario Riolo
Francesco Aloi
Santa Olga Cacciola
Elena Santilli
Antonella Pane
Gaetano Bentivenga
Aloi F.
Riolo M.
La Spada F.
Bentivenga G.
Moricca S.
Santilli E.
Pane A.
Faedda R.
Cacciola S.O.
Source :
Forests; Volume 12; Issue 12; Pages: 1664, Forests, Vol 12, Iss 1664, p 1664 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021.

Abstract

Paulownia species are fast growing trees native to China, which are being grown in managed plantings in several European countries for the production of wood and biomasses. In 2018, wilting, stunting, leaf yellowing, and collapse, as a consequence of root and crown rot, were observed in around 40% of trees of a 2-year-old planting of Paulownia elongata × P. fortunei in Calabria (Southern Italy). Two species of Phytophthora were consistently recovered from roots, basal stem bark, and rhizosphere soil of symptomatic trees and were identified as Ph. nicotianae and Ph. palmivora on the basis of both morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by reproducing the symptoms on potted paulownia saplings transplanted into infested soil or stem-inoculated by wounding. Both Phytophthora species were pathogenic and caused root rot and stem cankers. Even though P. palmivora was the only species recovered from roots of naturally infected plants, in pathogenicity tests through infested soil P. nicotianae was more virulent. This is the first report of Phytophthora root and crown rot of a Paulownia species in Europe. Strategies to prevent this emerging disease include the use of healthy nursery plants, choice of well-drained soils for new plantations, and proper irrigation management.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994907
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Forests; Volume 12; Issue 12; Pages: 1664
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....7926ff0d241f3f59c071286564a41cf7
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121664