Distribution of genets of Cylindrobasidium argenteum in a river valley forest as determined by somatic incompatibility, and the significance of basidiospores for its dispersal.

摘要

Cylindrobasidium argenteum, a causal pathogen of white stem blight of a variety of broadleaf trees and shrubs, is thought to be transmitted to healthy trees through contact with infected branches of neighboring trees. To clarify whether basidiospores of C. argenteum are involved in the dispersal and infection process, we investigated distribution of genets of the fungus in a river valley forest using a somatic incompatibility test. Thirty-eight isolates were collected from diseased trees along two census lines at the bottom of Kikuchi River valley in southern Japan. In addition, 50 isolates were collected from four experimental plots on the slope of the valley. When the isolates from the valley bottom were paired in all combinations, a narrow clear zone line appeared in 701 out of 703 pairings, indicating that the material included 36 different genotypes, and suggesting that airborne basidiospores play an important role for dispersal of C. argenteum. In contrast, vegetative spread proved to be more frequent on the slope of the valley. On lower parts of such slopes, opportunities for healthy trees to meet infectious agents may increase because infected broken branches frequently move downwards on the slope. Based on these results, we suggest that C. argenteum adopts following dissemination strategies: (1) it spreads chiefly by basidiospores and infects trees, and (2) after colonizing stems or branches and producing an extensive mycelial mat, secondary infections of adjacent trees occur by contact with infectious agents such as diseased branches.