Diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) colonizing branches of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in southern Poland

Abstract

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infesting Norway spruce trees are known to be associated with fungi, especially species of Ophiostoma sensu lato and Ceratocystis. However, very little is known about these fungi in Poland. In this study, we examined the ophiostomatoid species associated with seven species of bark beetles developing in Norway spruce (Picea abies). Fungi were isolated from the beetles and their galleries at ten sites in southern Poland. We identified a total of 2,769 fungal isolates that belong to 19 ophiostomatoid species. These 19 species included a total of 16 associations between fungi and bark beetles that had not been previously recorded. The isolated fungal species were similar to those previously reported. The species spectrum and relative abundance of fungal associates were similar in seven bark beetle species, despite some differences between species. Except for Pityophthorus pityographus, all bark beetles species were frequently associated with ophiostomatoid fungi. The most commonly encountered fungal associates of bark beetles were the following: Ophiostoma ainoae, O. bicolor, O. piceae sensu lato and Grosmannia piceiperda. The results support the hypothesis that pathogenic ophiostomatoid fungi are important for aggressive bark beetles to kill trees. The most virulent fungal associate of bark beetles, Ceratocystis polonica was most commonly associated with Ips typographus. The most frequent ophiostomatoid species isolated from the beetles and galleries of P. pityographus were O. ainoae and Graphium fimbriisporum.

Grosmannia and Leptographium spp. associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia, including Leptographium taigense sp. nov.

“…cucullata was originally described from I. typographus infesting spruce in Norway (Solheim 1986), and has subsequently been reported from several bark beetle species in Europe (Kirisits 2004;Jankowiak et al 2009) as well as from I. typographus f. japonicus Niij. in Japan (Yamaoka et al 1997).…”

“…4), which has often been found in association with pine and spruce bark beetles in Europe (Dowding 1973;Mathiesen 1950;MathiesenKäärik 1953;Hallaksela 1977;Harding 1989;Gibbs and Inman 1991;Wingfield and Gibbs 1991;Kirisits 2004;Jacobs et al 2005;Jankowiak 2006;Jankowiak et al 2009), as well as with non-native bark beetle species infesting pines in South Africa (Zhou et al 2001). Earlier reports of this fungus from the USA (Rumbold 1931) and Australia (Webb 1946), were considered to be erroneous (Harrington and Cobb 1988) and a recent report of L. lundbergii from pine roots in the USA (Eckhardt et al 2004) also needs to be substantiated with sequence data.…”

Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Fungal Associates of Conifer Bark Beetles and their Potential in Bark Beetle Control

“…, Ophiostoma ainoae H. Solheim and Ophiostoma piceae (Münch) Syd & P. Syd. (Jankowiak et al 2009; Kirisits 2010; Persson et al 2009; Repe et al 2013; Viiri and Lieutier 2004; Yamaoka et al 1997). The regional distributions of different ophiostomatoid fungi might be due to differences in temperature optima for growth as well as local adaptations to climate, host chemistry, phloem moisture levels, and even investigation methods (Giordano et al 2013; Linnakoski et al 2016; Six and Bentz 2007; Solheim 1991b).…”

Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with three spruce-infesting bark beetles in Slovenia

“…Bark beetles are well-known vectors of ophiostomatoid fungi. These fungi are introduced into a new host tree during bark beetle attacks and the construction of their egg galleries (Paine et al 1997;Harrington 2005;Jankowiak et al 2009). The larvae that hatch from the eggs later pupate at the end of larval galleries (Jurc 2006).…”