The Authors illustrate the results of studies conducted in forest and in greenhouse conditions, respectively, to evaluate some effects of environmental changes on assemblages of endophytic fungi in the bark of beech twigs. The case study A was conducted in the Northern Apennines, in a mature beech stand displaying symptoms of forest decline, to assess whether trees exhibiting "poor crown conditions" are different from trees with normal canopy density with respect to the endophytic communities. Among the 900 examined twigs, 98 % resulted to be colonized by endophytic fungi and 30 % appeared to host three or more fungal species. Among the 44 detected fungal taxa, only an Aposphaeria species, known as an opportunistic pathogen, was detected with a significantly higher frequency in trees with high crown transparency. In the case study B, the endophytic fungal communities of the twigs of beech saplings subjected to prolonged exposure to SDBS aerosol in a greenhouse were investigated. Thirty-six fungal species were isolated from the 360 examined twigs. Multiple colonization of twigs and diversity of endophyte species was higher in water-sprayed plants (control) than on SDBS-treated plants. The colonization rate by endophytic fungi was significantly lower on twigs of SDBS-sprayed plants than on the controls. A species of Phomopsis occurred with a significantly lower frequency on SDBS-treated twigs. Within the limits of the indoor experimental conditions the results of case study B suggest that prolonged application of SDBS on aerial parts of beech may affect the endophytic mycobiota of lignified twigs.
Environmental changes and endophytes: two studies on European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Italy.
Danti R;
2004
Abstract
The Authors illustrate the results of studies conducted in forest and in greenhouse conditions, respectively, to evaluate some effects of environmental changes on assemblages of endophytic fungi in the bark of beech twigs. The case study A was conducted in the Northern Apennines, in a mature beech stand displaying symptoms of forest decline, to assess whether trees exhibiting "poor crown conditions" are different from trees with normal canopy density with respect to the endophytic communities. Among the 900 examined twigs, 98 % resulted to be colonized by endophytic fungi and 30 % appeared to host three or more fungal species. Among the 44 detected fungal taxa, only an Aposphaeria species, known as an opportunistic pathogen, was detected with a significantly higher frequency in trees with high crown transparency. In the case study B, the endophytic fungal communities of the twigs of beech saplings subjected to prolonged exposure to SDBS aerosol in a greenhouse were investigated. Thirty-six fungal species were isolated from the 360 examined twigs. Multiple colonization of twigs and diversity of endophyte species was higher in water-sprayed plants (control) than on SDBS-treated plants. The colonization rate by endophytic fungi was significantly lower on twigs of SDBS-sprayed plants than on the controls. A species of Phomopsis occurred with a significantly lower frequency on SDBS-treated twigs. Within the limits of the indoor experimental conditions the results of case study B suggest that prolonged application of SDBS on aerial parts of beech may affect the endophytic mycobiota of lignified twigs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
