Induction of Dothistroma blight symptoms with dothistromin

The role of weather and topography in the development of Dothistroma septosporum.

“…The red colour of the lesions visible on an infected needle is due to the presence of dothistromin, one of 300 mycotoxins that are known mutagens and animal carcinogens (Shain and Franich 1981;Ames et al 1987). Though toxic to human cells, dothistromin is not considered a health hazard to forest workers (Elliot et al 1989;Stoessl et al 1990).…”

“…Infection severity has been found to increase with increasing light intensity, suggesting there is an interaction between dothistromin and photosynthetically-active tissue (Gadgil and Holden 1976;Shain and Franich 1981). Dothistromin is broken down to oxalic acid and CO2 more efficiently in light (80% breakdown) compared to dark (5-10% breakdown) (Franich et al 1986).…”

The relationship between climate and outbreak dynamics of Dothistroma needle blight in northwest British Columbia, Canada.

“…Dothistroma septosporum is a primary pathogen that invades and kills pine foliage . The disease is characterized by distinct brick-red bands (l-3mm wide) around the needles that can appear within weeks of infection (Shain and Franich 1981).…”

“…The toxin diffuses into tissue in advance of the hyphae, killing cells and resulting in their collapse (Shain and Franich 1981). Sporulation occurs shortly after the death of the needle tissue, by the formation of minute black stromata (fruiting bodies), which emerge through the dead epidermis.…”

Spore dispersal and infection of lodgepole pine by Dothistroma septosporum in northwest British Columbia.

“…The red banding is due to dothistromin, a mycotoxin produced during initial growth stages of the fungus (Shain andFranich, 1981, Bradshaw andZhang, 2006). Black fruiting bodies (stromata) can be seen in the red band in later stages of the disease 7 (Bradshaw, 2004).…”