Contamination of Pinus radiata Seeds in California by Fusarium circinatum

Abstract

The pitch canker fugus, Fusarium circinatum (= F. subglutinans f sp. pini), causes several serious diseases of pines. The pathogen infects a variety of vegetative and reproductive pine structures at diierent stages of maturity and produces a diversity of symptoms. In addition to producing resinous cankers on the woody vegetative structures of its pine host, the causal fungus causes the mortality of female flowers and mature cones, deteriorates seeds of several pine species, and can cause mortality of seedlings in nurseries. Since 1986, pitch canker has been epidemic in California on Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) and has all the earmarks of an introduced disease.

Citation

Dwinell, L. David. 1999. Contamination of Pinus radiata Seeds in California by Fusarium circinatum. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions