" # $&!$%!$'
Córdoba (Spain) 9 - 14th September 2012 th
th
6 IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 “Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems” th th 9 -14 September 2012 Córdoba-Spain
Biological pollution: Phytophthora species threatening forest nurseries and natural ecosystems in Portugal M. Horta Jung1, A. Pèrez-Sierra2, A. Solla3, A. Cravador1, T. Jung1,4 1
Center for Mediterranean Bioresources and Food (MeditBio), Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology and Phytopathology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. 2 Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. 3 Ingeniería Técnica Forestal, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Spain. 4 Phytophthora Research and Consultancy, Thomastraße 75, 83098 Brannenburg, Germany. Corresponding author:
[email protected]
Abstract Phytophthora is a major genus of plant pathogens, responsible for some of the most devastating diseases of tree species and natural ecosystems. On a global scale, more than 66 % of all fine root diseases and more than 90 % of all collar rot diseases of woody plant species are caused by Phytophthora species. Planting of infested nursery stock as one of the major pathways of Phytophthora species into agricultural and horticultural systems and into forests and other natural ecosystems is a serious case of biological pollution. In Portugal, monitoring of P. cinnamomi in mature holm and cork oak stands has been done with some regularity, but the true dimension of the risk posed by other Phytophthora spp. in natural ecosystems is unknown. Recent localized surveys in Portugal demonstrated the occurrence of P. quercina and P. uliginosa in two declining cork oak stands in Alentejo, P. citrophthora, P. hydropathica aff. and P. parsiana aff. in two water courses in Algarve and P. alni causing Alnus dieback along a river in Trás-os-Montes. In five Portuguese forest nurseries P. cinnamomi, P. multivora, P. cambivora, P. cactorum, P. cryptogea and P. quercetorum were also detected. In two young cork oak plantings with high levels of mortality (one pure stand and one mixed stand with Pinus pinaster) P. cinnamomi and P. cryptogea were detected. In Europe all these Phytophthora species are considered as alien invasive pathogens. It appears timely for a national Phytophthora survey to evaluate the Portuguese situation in order to elaborate a national management strategy.
th
6 IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 “Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems” th th 9 -14 September 2012 Córdoba-Spain
