Fusarioid community diversity associated with conifer seedlings in forest nurseries across the contiguous USA.

Introduction: Fusarioid fungi that cause damping-off and root diseases can result in significant losses to conifer crops produced in forest nurseries across the USA. These nurseries are vital to reforestation and forest restoration efforts. Understanding the diversity of Fusarioid fungi associated with damping-off and root diseases of conifer seedlings can provide an approach for targeted management techniques to limit seedling losses and pathogen spread to novel landscapes.

First Report of Armillaria root disease of caused by in South Carolina, USA.

Celtis laevigata (sugarberry, southern hackberry) is an important, shade-tolerant, deciduous hardwood tree species that occurs naturally in flood plains, along streams and rivers, and in urban landscapes of the southeastern USA (Kennedy 1990). In recent years, dieback and mortality of C. laevigata have been commonly observed in some areas of South Carolina (SC) and Georgia (GA) (Poole et al.

First Report of Armillaria Root Disease Pathogen, , on and in Georgia, USA.

Armillaria root and butt diseases, which are a global issue, can be influenced by changing environmental conditions. Armillaria gallica is a well-known pathogen of diverse trees worldwide (Brazee and Wick 2009). Besides A.

Rapid Detection of Directly from Host Plant and Beetle Vector Tissues Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

Since its introduction in 2002, laurel wilt disease has devastated indigenous lauraceous species in the southeastern United States. The causal agent is a fungal pathogen, , which, after being introduced into the xylem of trees by its vector beetle, , results in a fatal vascular wilt. Rapid detection and accurate diagnosis of infections is paramount to the successful implementation of disease management strategies.

Genomic comparisons of the laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, and related tree pathogens highlight an arsenal of pathogenicity related genes.

Raffaelea lauricola is an invasive fungal pathogen and symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) that has caused widespread mortality to redbay (Persea borbonia) and other Lauraceae species in the southeastern USA. We compare two genomes of R. lauricola (C2646 and RL570) to seven other related Ophiostomatales species including R.

Genetic Variation in Native Populations of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, in Taiwan and Japan and the Introduced Population in the United States.

Laurel wilt is a vascular wilt disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola, a mycangial symbiont of an ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. The fungus and vector are native to Asia but were apparently introduced to the Savannah, GA, area 15 or more years ago. Laurel wilt has caused widespread mortality on redbay (Persea borbonia) and other members of the Lauraceae in the southeastern United States, and the pathogen and vector have spread as far as Texas.

Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Xiphinema chambersi Population from Live Oak in Jekyll Island, Georgia, with Comments on Morphometric Variations.

A population of Xiphinema chambersi from the root zone around live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) trees on Jekyll Island, GA, is described using both morphological and molecular tools and compared with descriptions of type specimens. Initially, because of a few morphological differences, this nematode was thought to represent an undescribed species.

Three genera in the Ceratocystidaceae are the respective symbionts of three independent lineages of ambrosia beetles with large, complex mycangia.

The genus Ambrosiella accommodates species of Ceratocystidaceae (Microascales) that are obligate, mutualistic symbionts of ambrosia beetles, but the genus appears to be polyphyletic and more diverse than previously recognized. In addition to Ambrosiella xylebori, Ambrosiella hartigii, Ambrosiella beaveri, and Ambrosiella roeperi, three new species of Ambrosiella are described from the ambrosia beetle tribe Xyleborini: Ambrosiella nakashimae sp. nov.

Ambrosiella roeperi sp. nov. is the mycangial symbiont of the granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus.

Isolations from the granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini), collected in Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri and Ohio, yielded an undescribed species of Ambrosiella in thousands of colony-forming units (CFU) per individual female. Partial sequences of ITS and 28S rDNA regions distinguished this species from other Ambrosiella spp., which are asexual symbionts of ambrosia beetles and closely related to Ceratocystis spp.

Efficacy of heat treatment for the thousand cankers disease vector and pathogen in small black walnut logs.

Thousand cankers disease, caused by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman) and an associated fungal pathogen (Geosmithia morbida M. Kolarík, E. Freeland, C.

First Report of Laurel Wilt, Caused by Raffaelea lauricola, on Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) in Alabama.

Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, a fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is responsible for extensive mortality of native redbays (Persea borbonia and P. palustris) in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States (1). The wilt also affects the more widespread sassafras, Sassafras albidum, particularly in areas where diseased redbays are common and populations of X.

First Report of Laurel Wilt Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Sassafras in Mississippi.

Laurel wilt is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harrin.

Susceptibility to Laurel Wilt and Disease Incidence in Two Rare Plant Species, Pondberry and Pondspice.

Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, has been responsible for extensive losses of redbay (Persea borbonia) in South Carolina and Georgia since 2003. Symptoms of the disease have been noted in other species of the Lauraceae such as the federally endangered pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) and the threatened pondspice (Litsea aestivalis). Pondberry and pondspice seedlings were inoculated with R.

Shoot Blight Caused by Sirococcus tsugae on Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in Georgia.

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is an ecologically and economically important conifer from the north-central United States to the east coast of North America to the southern Appalachian Mountains. In early spring 2010, blighted shoot tips of eastern hemlock were observed at widely separated locations in the Chattahoochee National Forest in north Georgia. Damage did not appear to be directly related to hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) activity, which was sporadic or absent in some areas where symptoms were observed.

Isolations from the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, confirm that the laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, originated in Asia.

The laurel wilt pathogen Raffaelea lauricola was hypothesized to have been introduced to the southeastern USA in the mycangium of the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, which is native to Asia. To test this hypothesis adult X. glabratus were trapped in Taiwan and on Kyushu Island, Japan, in 2009, and dead beetles were sent to USA for isolation of fungal symbionts.

Quantification of propagules of the laurel wilt fungus and other mycangial fungi from the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus.

The laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, is a fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, which is native to Asia and was believed to have brought R. lauricola with it to the southeastern United States. Individual X.

First Report of Laurel Wilt Disease Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Sassafras in Florida and South Carolina.

Laurel wilt disease, caused by Raffaelea lauricola (T.C. Harr.

First Report of Laurel Wilt Disease Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Camphor in Florida and Georgia.

Laurel wilt is a recently described (1) vascular disease of redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng) and other plants in the family Lauraceae. The wilt is caused by Raffaelea lauricola, a fungus vectored by the nonnative redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff) (1,2).

Diplodia pinea, the Cause of Diplodia Blight of Pines, Confirmed in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is the major commercial pine species cultivated in the Gulf Coast Region of the southern United States. Symptoms of Diplodia shoot blight (including yellow and brown needles and resin-soaked, dead, small twigs), pycnidia with conidia typical of Diplodia pinea on blighted shoots, and damaged, immature seed cones were observed during the summer of 2007 in loblolly pine seed orchards near Ward, AL, Winn Parish, LA, and Moselle, MS. Similar conidia also were obtained from pycnidia on opened seed cones of longleaf pine (P.

California Laurel Is Susceptible to Laurel Wilt Caused by Raffaelea lauricola.

Extensive mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.) has been observed in the southeastern United States since 2003.

Biology and host associations of redbay ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), exotic vector of laurel wilt killing redbay trees in the southeastern United States.

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), and its fungal symbiont, Raffaelea sp., are new introductions to the southeastern United States responsible for the wilt of mature redbay, Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.

Fumigant distribution in forest nursery soils under water seal and plastic film after application of dazomet, metam-sodium and chloropicrin.

Adequate concentration, exposure time and distribution uniformity of activated fumigant gases are prerequisites for successful soil fumigation. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate gas phase distributions of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) and chloropicrin (CP) in two forest-tree nurseries. Concentrations of MITC and CP in soil air were measured from replicated microplots that received dazomet, metam-sodium and CP.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Longidorus americanum n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae), a Needle Nematode Parasitizing Pine in Georgia.

We describe and illustrate a new needle nematode, Longidorus americanum n. sp., associated with patches of severely stunted and chlorotic loblolly pine, (Pinus taeda L.

Suitability of Southern Pines, Other Selected Crops, and Nutsedge to a Longidorus sp. Associated with Stunting of Loblolly Pine Seedlings.

An undescribed needle nematode (Longidorus sp.) has been associated with severely stunted loblolly pine seedlings at a south Georgia nursery. Containers with selected crop and weed species were infested with 100 or 200 adults and juveniles of the Longidorus individuals to evaluate host suitability.