Effect of CO2 enhancement on beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedling root rot due to Phytophthora plurivora and Phytophthora cactorum

Autorzy

• Miłosz Tkaczyk Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Braci Leśnej 3, Sękocin Stary, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
  e-mail: M.Tkaczyk@ibles.waw.pl
• Katarzyna Sikora Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
• Justyna A. Nowakowska Forest Research Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
• Katarzyna Kubiak Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
• Tomasz Oszako Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
  Technical University in Białystok, Forest Faculty, Piłsudskiego 8, 17-200 Hajnówka, Poland

Abstract

Global climate change is associated with higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). The ongoing changes are likely to have significant, direct or indirect effects on plant diseases caused by many biotic agents such as phytopathogenic fungi. This study results showed that increased CO₂ concentration did not stimulate the growth of 1-year-old beech Fagus sylvatica L. seedlings but it activated pathogenic Phytophthora species (P. plurivora and P. cactorum) which caused significant reduction in the total number of fine roots as well as their length and area. The results of the greenhouse experiment indicated that pathogens once introduced into soil survived in pot soil, became periodically active (in sufficient water conditions) and were able to damage beech fine roots. However, the trees mortality was not observed during the first year of experiment. DNA analyses performed on soil and beech tissue proved persistence of introduced Phytophthora isolates.

Keywords

• disease
• DNA
• Fagus sylvatica
• Phytophthora