The large majority of pathogenic necrotrophic Basidiomycota is composed by wood decay fungi. These fungi are reported to cause dramatic losses to forestry worldwide by killing trees or making them vulnerable to windthrow or bark beetles attacks. Unlike biotrophic Basidiomycota (e.g., rusts), pathogenic necrotrophic basidiomycetes have long been regarded among the least threatening exotic microbes. A single wood decay agent (i.e., Phellinus weirii) is currently regulated as a quarantine pathogen in the EPPO Region. However, in the last decades an increasing number of exotic wood decay fungi has been reported, most of which were discovered with the aid of molecular markers. While some of them have been reported only locally, or as single records (e.g., Laccocephalum hartmannii), some others established and spread (e.g., Inonotus rickii, Perenniporia ochroleuca). The list of introduced necrotrophic Basidiomycota also includes the two most common root rot agents of forest trees. An European genotype of Armillaria mellea has spread clonally over a few hundreds of meters in south Africa, while a population of the north American pathogen Heterobasidion irregulare is invading pine stands of central Italy. Its current distribution extends over 103 km along the Roman coast. Comparative observations and experiments with a native related species (Heterobasidion annosum sensu stricto) is aiding in elucidating the mechanisms of invasion and the factors favouring the spread of H. irregulare in Italy. Once established, wood decay agents have a great persistence in forests. Thus, the consequences of these introductions shouldn’t be underestimated.

Invasion by pathogenic necrotrophic Basidiomycota: shall we care?

GONTHIER, Paolo
2010-01-01

Abstract

The large majority of pathogenic necrotrophic Basidiomycota is composed by wood decay fungi. These fungi are reported to cause dramatic losses to forestry worldwide by killing trees or making them vulnerable to windthrow or bark beetles attacks. Unlike biotrophic Basidiomycota (e.g., rusts), pathogenic necrotrophic basidiomycetes have long been regarded among the least threatening exotic microbes. A single wood decay agent (i.e., Phellinus weirii) is currently regulated as a quarantine pathogen in the EPPO Region. However, in the last decades an increasing number of exotic wood decay fungi has been reported, most of which were discovered with the aid of molecular markers. While some of them have been reported only locally, or as single records (e.g., Laccocephalum hartmannii), some others established and spread (e.g., Inonotus rickii, Perenniporia ochroleuca). The list of introduced necrotrophic Basidiomycota also includes the two most common root rot agents of forest trees. An European genotype of Armillaria mellea has spread clonally over a few hundreds of meters in south Africa, while a population of the north American pathogen Heterobasidion irregulare is invading pine stands of central Italy. Its current distribution extends over 103 km along the Roman coast. Comparative observations and experiments with a native related species (Heterobasidion annosum sensu stricto) is aiding in elucidating the mechanisms of invasion and the factors favouring the spread of H. irregulare in Italy. Once established, wood decay agents have a great persistence in forests. Thus, the consequences of these introductions shouldn’t be underestimated.
2010
92(S4)
60
60
Gonthier P.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/84072
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