Chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, was identified in Devon, UK, in December 2016. Intensive surveys detected the disease at further sites in Devon (seven), Berkshire (one), Dorset (one), Derbyshire (four) and a cluster of eight sites in southeast London. Over 570 survey samples were tested, and 227 were positive for C. parasitica by isolation and real-time PCR. A total of 227 isolates were tested for mating type, and 197 screened for vegetative compatibility group (VCG) and compared with VCGs known from mainland Europe. The same isolates were also screened for the presence of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1). Eleven VCGs were identified within the UK population. Five corresponded to already known European VCGs but six were unique. The European VCGs mainly came from the Devon, Dorset, Berkshire and Derbyshire disease outbreaks, whilst unique VCGs were almost exclusively from the southeast London cluster. Both mating types were detected, but only one mating type was present at each site, with the exception of a single Devon site. Perithecia of C. parasitica were never observed at any site. CHV-1 was found in seven isolates from three different locations and was always subtype-I, which has limited hypovirulence. Therefore, although CHV-1 is associated with C. parasitica at some outbreaks, it probably has limited impact on virulence. The diversity of VCGs and their distribution at outbreak sites, together with findings of CHV-1, suggests C. parasitica has been introduced to the UK multiple times over at least two decades through international plant trade.
Chestnut blight is a disease of Castanea species caused by the ascomycete Cryphonectria parasitica. The fungus originates from eastern Asia (Liu et al., 2007) and has little effect on the native host trees Castanea crenata (Japanese chestnut) and Castanea mollisima (Chinese chestnut) (Roane et al., 1986) but it has caused severe epidemics resulting in widespread death and dieback of Castanea dentata (American chestnut) in North America, where the fungus was introduced in the late 19th century (Anagnostakis, 1987), and Castanea
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) plants were greenhouse-grown under full sun or 75% light exclusion. Shade-grown leaves were larger, thinner, flatter, and darker green than sun-grown leaves. Sun- and shade-grown plants had the same total leaf area and were the same height. Shade-grown leaves had a single, poorly developed palisade layer with large chloroplasts dispersed throughout the palisade cells. Sun-grown leaves had one or two layers of well developed palisade cells with the chloroplasts aligned primarily along the radial walls. Stomatal density was greater in sun-grown leaves, but shade-grown leaves had more stomata per leaf.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.