Canadian Forest Service Publications
Adhesives for seed placement during artificial inoculation of Pinus banksiana seedlings with the dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium americanum. 2003. Brandt, J.P.; Hiratsuka, Y.; Pluth, D.J. Canadian Journal of Botany 81(10): 1039-1043.
Year: 2003
Issued by: Northern Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 23564
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Engelm.) is a serious pest of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Research investigating factors such as host resistance, influence of host nutrition on infection rates, and effect of temperature and humidity on the life cycle of the pathogen is limited by our ability to consistently infect the host through artificial means. A greenhouse experiment utilizing a completely randomized design with four replicates was conducted to test the effectiveness of three chemical compounds and the natural viscin of the dwarf mistletoe seed to act as adhesives during artificial inoculation of jack pine seedlings. Synthetic adhesives used were anhydrous lanolin (LAN), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), and polyvinyl acetate (PVA). The percentage of infected seedlings was significantly higher with HPC compared with that of PVA, LAN, and the seed’s viscin. HPC, as the superior adhesive, and the techniques described should allow consistent production of seedlings infected with dwarf mistletoe for research, regardless of the dwarf mistletoe species involved. Problems encountered during the testing of the adhesives are discussed in relation to the nature of the adhesives and their application.