engleski

Different response of European chestnut to the hypovirus-infected Cryphonectria parasitica isolates

European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is an important multipurpose tree that has been devastated by chestnut blight, a severe disease caused by the ascomycete fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. The spontaneous recovery of chestnut trees and natural biological control of the disease is enabled by Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) that reduces fungal virulence and reproductive capacities. However, spread of CHV1 is limited by the fungal diversity. It was previously proven that C. parasitica populations are relatively diverse in Croatia but nevertheless natural hypovirulence was present. Recently, increase of fungal diversity and decrease in number of hypovirulent isolates over time was observed in some C. parasitica populations in Croatia and could have negative influence on natural chestnut recovery. In this study, differential response of particular chestnut genotypes to infection with various virulent and hypovirulent C. parasitica genotypes was observed. Therefore, chestnut recovery could be influenced not only by spread of CHV1 but also by the response of chestnut trees on particular hypovirulent C. parasitica isolates.

ascomycete fungus; biological control; chestnut blight; chestnut recovery

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