Differential responses of Central American and Mexican pine species and Pinus radiata to infection by the pitch canker fungus

• Published in: New forests 2000-05, Vol.19 (3), p.241-258
• Main Authors: HODGE, G. R, DVORAK, W. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Pest resistance; Plant diseases; Plant pathogens; Plant resistance; Seedlings; Trees; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims
• ISSN: 0169-4286; 1573-5095
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006613021996

Seedlings from a wide array of 23 species, varieties,and geographic races were screened for resistance topitch canker using artificial inoculation in agreenhouse. Seed to represent these taxa weregenerally collected in natural stands. In addition,seedlings from 79 families of P. radiata fromcommercial populations from Chile and New Zealand werescreened in a separate experiment. There was littlevariation in resistance among the commercial P.radiata families, with over 98% mortality. Similarresults were obtained with native P. radiatapopulations. All close relatives of P. radiata(sub-section Patula) were very susceptible. However,a number of closed-cone pine species (specifically,from sub-section Oocarpa) were generally veryresistant, with survival approaching 100%. Inaddition, in P. oocarpa, P. jaliscana, and P. tecunumanii from low elevation provenances anextremely high frequency of trees suffered no apparentdamage from the pathogen (92%, 85% and 80%,respectively).[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]