Fusarium species associated with naturally regenerated Fagus sylvatica seedlings affected by Phytophthora

Abstract

Fusarium diseases in forests, especially in naturally regenerated seedlings, are poorly recognized. Recently the rapid and severe decline of natural regeneration of European beech caused by Phytophthora spp. has been observed in Poland. The diseased beech seedlings were also co-infected by Fusarium species. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the role of Fusarium species that may play a role in the decline of beech seedlings in Poland. A total of 487 Fusarium isolates were obtained from 450 symptomatic and asymptomatic beech seedlings: 466 from symptomatic plants and 21 from asymptomatic plants. Based on comparisons for two genes and phylogenetic analysis, all Fusarium strains were separated into 14 phylogenetically distinct species belonging to four Fusarium species complexes (SC), namely the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), the F. nisikadoi species complex (FNSC), the F. sambucinum species complex (FSSC), and the F. tricinctum species complex (FTSC). Fusarium avenaceum and F. paeoniae were the most frequently isolated species from both above- and below-ground organs of seedlings affected by Phytophthora. In the pathogenicity trials, the most virulent species for beech seedlings were F. avenaceum and F. sporotrichioides. However, Fusarium isolates were significantly less aggressive compared to the P. × cambivora (positive control). Our results demonstrate that beech seedlings were frequently colonized by various Fusarium species. Fusarium species do not play an important role in the reduction of naturally regenerated European beech seedlings due to their low aggressiveness.