Project: 2005-03. Report - Detection of Nectria fuckeliana in wood cores from pruned and un–pruned Pinus radiata. Second year results – February 2007
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Date: 2007 Author: Matthew Power and Tod Ramsfield Publication: Report Project reference: 2005-03 Full report is available from: |
Executive summary:
Objective
The objective of this study was to resample pruned and unpruned Pinus radiata trees that were first sampled in 2006 and to use a DNA based method, as well as culturing, to detect the presence of Nectria fuckeliana. We wanted to confirm our results from 2006 which indicated that there was no significant difference between pruned and un–pruned trees and the presence of N. fuckeliana, determine if fungal incidence changed over time, and determine if there was a relationship between presence of the fungus and fluting.
Key Results
Using the molecular identification technique, N. fuckeliana was detected in 39 of the 180 cores that were collected and the fungus was isolated from 11 cores by culturing. The fungus was identified in both pruned and un–pruned trees using the molecular identification and culturing techniques. Chi square analysis indicated that there was no significant relationship between the presence of N. fuckeliana and whether the tree was pruned or un–pruned. Analysis also showed that there was a significant relationship between the presence of fluting and the presence of N. fuckeliana in the tree. The fungus was detected in 41 of the 180 cores collected in 2006; so there was no significant change in the incidence of the fungus from 2006 to 2007. Fungal growth was recorded from 71 of the 180 surface sterilised cores that were cultured. Of these, N. fuckeliana was identified on 11. The identification was confirmed using the DNA identification test, and importantly, it was found that only the 11 isolates that gave positive results by culturing were identified as N. fuckeliana by the DNA method. There were no false positives.
Further Work
Destructive sampling of selected trees is planned to take place early 2008 to detect and map the distribution of N. fuckeliana within the tree. This will involve further testing using culturing and molecular methods.
Full report is available from:
Ensis
Private Bag 3020
Rotorua
