Spread of the invasive pathogen Lecanosticta acicola on species of Pinus in Bulgaria

Abstract

The brown spot needle blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Lecanosticta acicola, has been the most serious and damaging disease on needles of Pinus spp. in recent years. In Bulgaria, the pathogen was reported for the first time in 2017 in a generative plantation of Pinus sylvestris in the region of the State Forestry Ardino, the Eastern Rhodopes. The newly- established invasive pathogen is considered highly adaptable to new hosts and environmental conditions. The life cycle and symptoms of the disease strongly suggest that the new emerging pathogen has the potential to cause severe damages and is a serious threat to naturally distributed species of Pinus in the country. In the period 2018-2019, a spread of L. acicola from the initial outbreak was established throughout stands of P. sylvestris and P. nigra on the territory of Kardzhali District.

Integrated approach for health status assessment of urban forests in the municipalities of Etropole  and Pravets, Bulgaria

“…Damage by the invasive pathogen Dothistroma septosporum on the needles of Pinus sylvestris trees showed strong virulence. In recent years, the pathogens D. septosporum and Lecanosticta acicola have caused serious damage to local and introduced coniferous tree species in the country (Georgieva, 2020).…”

“…Fuckel, Dothistroma septosporum (Dorogin) Morelet, D. pini Hulbary and Lecanosticta acicola (Thüm.) Syd., have affected the functional structure of pine forests in Bulgaria (Georgieva, Hlebarska, 2018;Georgieva, 2020;Zlatković et al, 2017). The emergence of new invasive diseases and pests in urban green areas have had a negative effect on the aesthetic vision of cities, and on the health and social status of residents and visitors (Georgiev et al, 2017).…”

Stratification, Scarification and Application of Phytohormones Promote Dormancy Breaking and Germination of Pelleted Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Seeds

“…Therefore, in the future, pelleting may prove an effective pre-treatment for the protection of plants against pathogens or bacteria. In recent years the presence of a species of fungal pathogen Lecanosticta acicola (Thümen) H. Sydow has been observed, which causes the disease called brown spot of pine needles [19]. This pathogen is an alien species which comes to Europe from Central America [20].…”

Diversity, migration routes, and worldwide population genetic structure of Lecanosticta acicola, the causal agent of brown spot needle blight

“…Europe (EPPO, 2018;Georgieva, 2020;Golovchenko et al, 2020;Stamenova et al, 2018) and the pathogen has reached the British Isles (Mullett et al, 2018). L. acicola has also expanded its range in Asia and is now present in Turkey, western Asia (Oskay et al, 2020).…”

“…Since 2008, the pathogen has spread into northern Europe and has been found in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Sweden (Adamson et al, 2015 ; Cleary et al, 2019 ; Markovskaja et al, 2011 ; Mullett et al, 2018 ). Several new reports of L. acicola have been documented in eastern Europe (EPPO, 2018 ; Georgieva, 2020 ; Golovchenko et al, 2020 ; Stamenova et al, 2018 ) and the pathogen has reached the British Isles (Mullett et al, 2018 ). L. acicola has also expanded its range in Asia and is now present in Turkey, western Asia (Oskay et al, 2020 ).…”