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Ecological role of the beech (Fagus sylvatica) provenance in the development of Fusarium sambucinum damping-off symptoms

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Aleksandar Vemić at University of Belgrade
Aleksandar Vemić
Sanja Jovanović
Sanja Jovanović
Zlatan Radulović
Zlatan Radulović
Zlatan Radulović
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Aleksandar Lučić
Aleksandar Lučić
Aleksandar Lučić
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Key message The contribution of this work enables efficient selection of F. sylvatica initial and reproductive material tolerant to the development of Fusarium sambucinum, providing better regeneration and seedlings production. Abstract The Fagus sylvatica damping-off caused by Fusarium sambucinum is a well-known but insufficiently studied disease, especially since it appears on other tree species in beech forests, creating a great possibility of beech infection. To understand the development processes of this fungus in natural stands and improve nursery production, we examined the influence of F. sylvatica germinants of different provenances on the development of damping-off symptoms caused by F. sambucinum. Our results indicated that the different provenances of F. sylvatica did not affect the possibility of symptoms, indicating the potential for intensive occurrence of infection with this fungal pathogen in geographically different F. sylvatica forests. Certain provenances showed statistically significant smaller dimensions of necrotic lesions and a higher degree of survival. The tolerant provenance seed had differences in width and thickness size compared to susceptible provenances. This research represents for the first time a reasonable basis for selecting initial material tolerant to damping-off caused by F. sambucinum.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Trees
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-024-02526-5
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Ecological role ofthebeech (Fagus sylvatica) provenance
inthedevelopment ofFusarium sambucinum damping‑off symptoms
AleksandarVemić1 · SanjaJovanović2 · ZlatanRadulović1 · AleksandarLučić2 · LjubinkoRakonjac3 ·
SabahudinHadrović3 · VladanPopović2
Received: 20 January 2024 / Accepted: 14 May 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
Key message The contribution of this work enables efficient selection of F. sylvatica initial and reproductive mate-
rial tolerant to the development of Fusarium sambucinum, providing better regeneration and seedlings production.
Abstract The Fagus sylvatica damping-off caused by Fusarium sambucinum is a well-known but insufficiently studied
disease, especially since it appears on other tree species in beech forests, creating a great possibility of beech infection. To
understand the development processes of this fungus in natural stands and improve nursery production, we examined the
influence of F. sylvatica germinants of different provenances on the development of damping-off symptoms caused by F.
sambucinum. Our results indicated that the different provenances of F. sylvatica did not affect the possibility of symptoms,
indicating the potential for intensive occurrence of infection with this fungal pathogen in geographically different F. sylvatica
forests. Certain provenances showed statistically significant smaller dimensions of necrotic lesions and a higher degree of
survival. The tolerant provenance seed had differences in width and thickness size compared to susceptible provenances.
This research represents for the first time a reasonable basis for selecting initial material tolerant to damping-off caused by
F. sambucinum.
Keywords Damping-off· European beech· Reproductive material selection· Seedlings production
1. Introduction
European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of Europe’s most
common and essential tree species (Houston Durrant etal.
2016). This tree species has an extensive range of height
amplitudes; beech forests have significant environmental
variability (Cvjetićanin etal. 2016). New questions about
these ecosystems' sensitivity and resilience arise due to
environmental changes (Dittmar etal. 2003). Changes in
the environment affect the increase in the distribution of tree
pathogens as a consequence of their increased spread rate
(Ghelardini etal. 2016). Recently, there has been a predis-
position of F. sylvatica to various harmful factors, including
insects, fungal infections, bark inflammation, and complex
diseases due to climate change, rising temperatures and solar
radiation (Langer and Bußkamp 2023). Combining ecology
and evolutionary biology is necessary for understanding
forest diseases and their management in global changes
(Desprez-Loustau etal. 2016). Monitoring and quality con-
trol of forest reproductive material is the basis for adapting
to future climate changes (Mataruga etal. 2023).
Fungi of the genus Fusarium colonize ecologically
diverse conditions and many species are significant plant
pathogens (Smith 2007; Leslie and Summerell 2013;
Babadoost 2018; Abdel-Azeem etal. 2019). Every plant
has at least one disease associated with the genus Fusar-
ium, while in forestry, various species from this genus
cause various diseases of seeds, young seedlings, and
adult trees (Karadžić 2010). Many toxins are produced by
species of the genus Fusarium that harm plants, as well
as humans and animals that use these plants (Munkvold
Communicated by Feau.
* Sanja Jovanović
sanja.jovanovic@forest.org.rs
1 Department ofForest Protection, Institute ofForestry, 3
Kneza Višeslava Street, 11030Belgrade, Serbia
2 Department ofGenetics, Plant Breeding, Seed andNursery
Production, Institute ofForestry, 3 Kneza Višeslava Street,
11030Belgrade, Serbia
3 Department ofForest Establishment, Silviculture
andEcology, Institute ofForestry, 3 Kneza Višeslava Street,
11030Belgrade, Serbia
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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