Canadian Forest Service Publications
Seedborne Fusarium on Douglas-fir: pathogenicity and seed stratification method to decrease Fusarium contamination. 1995. Axelrood, P.E.; Neumann, M.; Trotter, D.; Radley, R.; Shrimpton, G.; Dennis, J.J. New Forests 9: 35-51.
Year: 1995
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 3602
Language: English
Availability: PDF (download)
Abstract
Twelve Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlots from coastal British Columbia were assayed for seedborne Fusarium. All of the seedlots were contaminated with Fusarium. Percent of nonstratified seeds from individual seedlots harboring Fusarium ranged from 0.3% to 95.4%. Sixty-seven percent of the seedlots had Fusarium on less than 2% of the seeds. Post-stratification seedborne Fusarium levels were significantly less for running water imbibition compared to standing water imbibition. However, seedling growth at a container nursery was not consistently different for stratified seed imbibed initially in standing or running water. Fusarium disease symptoms were not observed in the nursery environment. The species of Fusarium isolated from seed were F. acuminatum F. avenaceum, F. lateritium, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. poae and F. sambucinum. Twelve Fusarium isolates, comprising six species, were assessed for pathogenicity. Disease symptoms were observed after four weeks incubation and Fusarium isolates ranged in virulence from low to high. Fusarium oxysporum isolates were the most pathogenic.
