Root and crown rot of Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Santos, A. F. dos; Tessmann, Dauri J.; Alves, Tatiane C. A.; Vida, João B.; Harakava, Ricardo

Source:

Journal of Phytopathology, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Volume 159, Number 3, p.194–196 (2011)

URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.2010.01741.x

Keywords:

chromistan fungi, forest pathology, fungal plant pathogen

Abstract:

In an area reforested with Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) located in Paran√° State, southern Brazil, 20- to 40-year-old trees representing 0.2% of the surveyed area had symptoms of root and crown rot, yellowing and browning of leaves from the uppermost branches and death. Three Phytophthora isolates obtained from diseased plant tissue were tested against 1-year-old Brazilian pine seedlings and found to display positive pathogenicity. Based on their morphological and physiological characteristics, the isolates were identified as Phytophthora cinnamomi. A GenBank BLAST search of partial sequences from the β-tubulin and elongation factor-1α genes, as well as the ITS regions and 5.8S gene of rDNA, confirmed the species identification. This is the first report of the involvement of this pathogen on the aetiology of Brazilian pine root and crown rot.