Assessing the pathogenic effect of Fusarium, Geosmithia and Ophiostoma fungi from a broad-leaved trees
Abstract
Phytopathogenic effect of Geosmithia pallida, G. langdonii, Ophiostoma grandicarpum, O. querci, two isolates of O. piceae, and two isolates of Fusarium solani was compared using plant growth test (stem and root length of garden cress plants seeded on mycelium-covered potato carrot agar); Ophiostoma spp. and F. solani were isolated from oak, Geosmithia spp. from galleries of Scolytus intricatus on beech. All fungi inhibited more the root elongation than that of stems.
F. solani led to plant collapse after briefly stimulating the growth of stem and in one case also root. G. langdonii inhibited stem and root growth to 20 % and caused plant collapse.
G. pallida inhibited root growth to 25 % but not the stem growth. Ophiostoma spp. reduced stem growth to 60-80 % and root growth to 25-60 %.
O. piceae and O. querci caused plant collapse after 15-20 days.