Project: 2002-02. Report - Induced seedling resistance in Pinus radiata seedlings to pinke pitch canker
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Date: 2003 Author: M A Dick and T Reglinski Publication: Report Project reference: 2002-02 Full report is available from: |
Executive summary:
A study was conducted to assess the potential for using elicitors to protect Pinus radiata seedlings against infection with Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker. Elicitor treatments, applied either six weeks or one week before inoculation, were compared with a commercial fungicide applied 1 week before inoculation. Treated plants were wounded then inoculated with either 10 spores or 100 spores at the wound site in order to mimic low and high disease pressure conditions. Elicitor treatment and fungicide treatment reduced the onset of disease development, as indicated by a reduction in incidence and lesion length. At low inoculum levels all of the treatments significantly reduced disease incidence and severity. At high inoculum levels there were no significant differences between treatments during the early stages of symptom development. However, by 50 days post inoculation it was apparent that there was a significant reduction in plant mortality on seedlings that had been treated with elicitor at 1 week before inoculation. These results confirm our previous findings that elicitor treatment can reduce the severity of infections caused by F. circinatum. There are indications that the plant response may be overcome by high inoculum pressure, particularly when the duration between treatment and inoculation extends to six weeks. Repeated elicitor applications may be advisable under high disease pressure conditions.Full report is available from:
Forest Research
Private bag 3020
Rotorua
New Zealand
