Field evidence for the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis as a vector of Heterobasidion annosum

“…It has been reported previously that several species of fungi have been found in association with H. abietis (Viiri, ). The large pine weevil may act as a vector of pathogenic fungi such as Heterobasidion annosum (Fries) Brefeld (Nuorteva & Laine, , ; Kadlec et al , ; Leather et al , ; Drenkhan et al , ) and several species of Leptographium (Piou, ; Viiri, ; Jankowiak & Bilański, , ). Little work has been reported on the long‐range dispersal of D. sapinea , however, and the possibility that it is entomochorous (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) as a potential vector of the pathogenic fungus Diplodia sapinea (Fr.) Fuckel

Drenkhan

Voolma

Adamson

et al. 2016

Agri and Forest Entomology

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1 Diplodia sapinea, an important pathogen of various conifer species, was recently recorded in the northern Baltic region. The pathogen can disperse over short distances via rain or wind, whereas long range dispersal occurs via movement of contaminated plant material and seeds by humans, as well as by insects.2 Hylobius abietis is one of the most important forest pests over large areas of Europe.Adult weevils feed on the bark of seedlings of young conifers, causing injury and often death. 3 Weevils were collected from fresh clear-cut areas and near the symptomatic conifer stands to analyze the presence of D. sapinea. Entire weevils collected from natural environments were crushed without surface washing. 4 The identity of D. sapinea and the fungal DNA extraction from the insects was confirmed by species-specific polymerase chain reaction priming. Eight H. abietis individuals were determined to be infected with D. sapinea. In a laboratory experiment, pine branches were infected with D. sapinea and were fed to adult H. abietis. 5 The results show that the pathogen survived in the digestive tract of H. abietis in the laboratory experiment, and also that the isolation of fungus from the faeces was successful. In addition, the results demonstrate that the large pine weevil may be a potential vector of pathogenic fungus D. sapinea.

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“…Phloem‐feeding weevils are consistently associated with blue‐stain fungi belonging to the ascomycete genera Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis and their anamorphs ( Leptographium , Pesotum , Sporothrix and Hyalorhinocladiella ) (Raffa & Klepzig, 1992), root‐rot fungi such as Heterobasidion annosum (Kadlec et al , 1992) and Armillaria spp. (Livingstone & Wingfield, 1982), and the rust pathogen Peridermium pini (Pappinen & von Weissenberg, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mutual benefit interactions between banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus and blue‐stain fungus Leptographium serpens in maritime pine

Pestaña¹,

Santolamazza‐Carbone²

2010

Agri and Forest Entomology

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1 Ecological interactions between banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus and bluestain fungus Leptographium serpens, when simultaneously sharing the same host plant (maritime pine Pinus pinaster) in winter and spring, were investigated. Temporal components of the interaction were taken into account by either introducing the weevils and the pathogen simultaneously or sequentially, with the weevils being introduced 1 month after the fungal inoculation. 2 We measured larval mortality, development time, offspring number, sex ratio and body size of P. castaneus. Phloem phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were also assessed. Furthermore, we tested whether: (i) emerging offspring transported propagules of the fungus; (ii) artificially-contaminated weevils may transmit the disease to healthy trees; and (iii) field collected P. castaneus carry the fungus. 3 The fungus enhanced weevil colonization and brood production in both seasons.During winter and spring, adults from trees where the pathogen was inoculated prior to weevil introduction emerged earlier than weevils from trees where they had been introduced simultaneously with the fungus. During winter, weevils from preinoculated trees were also larger. Sex ratio and larval mortality were not affected. Leptographium serpens did not affect phloem nitrogen content but phosphorus content was greater in plants inoculated with the pathogen, which may explain the findings on weevil growth. 4 Sixty-five percent of the weevils that emerged from inoculated trees carried spores of L. serpens, although no successful isolation was made from field collected weevils. The fungus was recovered from 25% of the trees infested with artificiallycontaminated weevils. 5 These results suggest that P. castaneus benefits from the presence of L. serpens and may contribute to its spread.

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Field evidence for the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis as a vector of Heterobasidion annosum

Abstract: Mycological analysis of the excrements of adult weevils {Hylobius abietis L.), trapped in baited pitfall traps in South Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, demonstrated the presence of viable spores which suggest a positive role of the weevils as vectors of H. annosum.

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

Diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, and infested Scots pine seedlings in Poland

Diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, and infested Scots pine seedlings in Poland

The large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) as a potential vector of the pathogenic fungus Diplodia sapinea (Fr.) Fuckel

Mutual benefit interactions between banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus and blue‐stain fungus Leptographium serpens in maritime pine

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