Biscogniauxia nummularia infecting beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees and sympatric plants of the sedge Carex brevicollis. Issue 4 (28th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zabalgogeazcoa, I.; Pedro, J.; Canals, R. M.; Sieber, T.
• Is Part Of: Forest pathology. Volume 45:Issue 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 346
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2015-05-28
• 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.12202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1437-4781

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="efp12202-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <italic>Biscogniauxia nummularia</italic> is known for its association with beech (<italic>Fagus sylvatica</italic>), on which it occurs as a saprotroph and a pathogen causing strip cankers following water stress. This fungus has also been reported as a dominant endophytic species in plants of the sedge <italic>Carex brevicollis</italic> growing in the understory of beech forests and adjacent grasslands in Sierra de Urbasa (Navarre, Spain). In this area, stromata of <italic>B. nummularia</italic> were observed in dead and living wood of beech trees at several locations where plants of <italic>C. brevicollis</italic> also contained the fungus as an endophyte. Pure cultures obtained from stromata of <italic>B. nummularia</italic> on <italic>F. sylvatica</italic> trees were compared to endophytic isolates from symptomless <italic>C. brevicollis</italic>. Culture morphology and micromorphology as well as rDNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were identical, suggesting that <italic>B. nummularia</italic> from beech can also live endophytically in <italic>C. brevicollis</italic>. It is unknown whether the endophytic strains of <italic>Carex</italic> might have a role as an inoculum source for the infection of beech trees, or whether they represent a dead end in the life cycle of the fungus.</p> </abstract>