OCCURRENCE OF THE PINE WOOD NEMATODES, BURSAPHELENCHUS SPP., AND THEIR POSSIBLE VECTORS IN ITALY

Authors

  • S. Caroppo
  • Laura Ambrogioni
  • M. Cavalli
  • D. Coniglio

Abstract

Seven Italian regions were sampled in 1996-97 to investigate on the occurrence of Bursaphelenchus species associated with coniferous forests showing decline symptoms of unknown etiology. A total of 68 composite samples were collected in 38 localities from 169 trees of Pinus pinaster, P. sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. nigra austriaca, P. strobes, Larix decidua and Juniperus communis. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was never detected. Specimens of B. mucronatus occurred in eight localities, B. leoni in seven, B. sexdentati in five and B. teratospicularis in three. Bursaphelenchus sp., considered to be an undescribed species, was found in the xylem of P. pinea in a single locality in Tuscany. Six B. mucronatus, two B. sexdentati and the Bursaphelenchus sp. Populations were reared in vitro on cultures of Botrytis cinerea. B. teratospicularis is recorded for the first time in Italy. New host records for Italy are P. sylvestris, P. nigra austriaca and P. strobes for B. mucronatus; P. sylvestris for B. leoni; P. pinea and P. halepensis for B. sexdentati. No Bursaphelenchus specimens were recovered from insects of the genera Monochamus, Pissodes, Sirex, Rhagium, Acanthocinus, Horthotomicus, Arhopalus and Tomicus captured in the samples forests.

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Published

1998-06-15

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Articles