A survey of aphelenchid nematodes (Nematoda: Aphelenchida) associated with maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, was conducted in Portugal in 1996 and 1999. A Bursaphelenchus species has been identified for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula. B. xylophilus is reported for the first time in Europe. It was found in very high numbers - up to 38 000 per 10 g of pine wood - inside a few declining trees infested with curculionid, cerambycid and scolytid beetles. Morphological observations, including shape of spicules, bursa, vulva, female tail end and stylet as well as morphometrics, were in accordance with the species description. Species-specific DNA fragment patterns were obtained using ITS-RFLP analysis, with five different restriction enzymes. The importance and implications of this finding are discussed. Premiere signalisation de Bursaphelenchus xylophilus au Portugal, at en Europe - Une enquete sur les nematodes Aphelenchides (Nematoda: Aphelenchida) associes au pin maritime (Pinus pinaster) a ete realisee au Portugal de 1996 a 1999. Une espece de Bursaphelenchus a ete identifiee pour la premiere fois dans la Peninsule Iberique. B. xylophilus est signale pour la premiere fois en Europe. Il a ete trouve en tres grand nombre - jusqu'a 38 000 individus pour 10 g de bois de pin - dans des arbres deperissants infestes par des Coleopteres Curculionides, Cerambycides et Scolytides. Les observations concernant la morphologie - en particulier la forme des spicules, la bourse, la vulve, l'extremite de la queue de la femelle et le stylet - de meme que les donnees morphometriques correspondent a la description de l'espece. Des sequences de fragments d'ADN specifique de l'espece ont ete obtenus par analyse ITS-RFLP a l'aide de cinq enzymes de restriction. L'importance et les implications de cette decouverte sont discutees.
Pine wilt disease (PWD) is perhaps the most serious threat to pine forests worldwide. The causative agent of PWD, the pinewood nematode (PWN), engages in a symbiotic partnership with its insect vector, the Monochamus beetle, as well as associated bacteria and ophiostomatoid fungi, in order to successfully infect and kill its host pine tree. This review focuses on the interspecific communication between PWN and its associated partners, and the potential role of this communication in promoting pathogenicity and invasiveness of PWN. We describe the chemical and molecular signals positively influencing the survival, reproduction, and spread of PWN. Knowledge of these signals could potentially be used to interfere with the proliferation and dispersal of PWN.
SUMMARY Most Bursaphelenchus species are fungal feeding nematodes that colonize dead or dying trees. However, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the pine wood nematode, is also a pathogen of trees and is the causal agent of pine wilt disease. B. xylophilus is native to North America and here it causes little damage to trees. Where it is introduced to new regions it causes huge damage. The most severely affected areas are found in the Far East but more recently B. xylophilus has been introduced into Portugal and the potential for damage here is also high. As incidence and severity of pine wilt disease are linked to temperature we suggest that climate change is likely to exacerbate the problems caused by B. xylophilus and, in addition, will extend (northwards in Europe) the range in which pine wilt disease can occur. Here we review what is currently known about the interactions of B. xylophilus with its hosts, including recent developments in our understanding of the molecular biology of pathogenicity in the nematode. We also examine the potential developments that could be made by more widespread use of genomics tools to understand interactions between B. xylophilus, bacterial pathogens that have been implicated in disease and host trees.
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