Aseptic Bursaphelenchus xylophilus does not reduce the mortality of young pine tree. Issue 6 (8th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, H.; Chen, C.; Liu, S.; Liu, P.; Liu, Q.; Jian, H.; Sturrock, R. N.
• Is Part Of: Forest pathology. Volume 43:Issue 6(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 444
• Page End: 454
• Publication Date: 2013-05-08
• Subjects: Trees -- Diseases and pests -- Periodicals; Trees -- Effect of air pollution on -- Periodicals; Forests and forestry -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 634.9
• DOI: 10.1111/efp.12052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1437-4781

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="efp12052-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>To assess the role of bacteria in pine wilt disease (PWD), aseptic M form (with a mucronated tail) and R form (with a round tail) of <italic>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</italic> and <italic>B. mucronatus</italic> were obtained and compared, in terms of reproduction and pathogenicity, with non‐aseptic nematode. In addition, bacteria isolated from non‐aseptic nematodes and pine trees inoculated with non‐aseptic nematodes were identified. The results indicated that the bacteria associated with nematodes significantly lowered the reproduction of R form of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> and <italic>B. mucronatus</italic>. Both the non‐aseptic and aseptic R forms of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> induced death in all infected 7‐ to 8‐year‐old pine trees, while the non‐aseptic and aseptic M forms of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> and <italic>B. mucronatus</italic> caused almost no plant mortality. High numbers of the non‐aseptic and aseptic R forms of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> were distributed throughout the inoculated trees, while <italic>B. mucronatus</italic> and M form of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> nematodes were lower in number and their distribution in stems limited within the inoculation site. Bacteria isolated from non‐aseptic nematodes were not recovered from the pine trees inoculated with these same kinds of nematodes. Two species of bacteria were both isolated from non‐aseptic <italic>B. mucronatus</italic> and from R form of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic>. <italic>Microbacterium trichotecenolyticum</italic> was common to both the control and inoculated pine trees. These results suggest that R form of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> is the causal agent of PWD and that bacteria cannot increase the virulence of <italic>B. xylophilus</italic> and <italic>B. mucronatus</italic>.</p> </abstract>