A Reliable and Simple Method for the Production of Viable Pycnidiospores of the Pine PathogenDiplodia sapineaand a Spore-Based Infection Assay on Scots Pine

• DOI: 10.1094/pdis-01-23-0107-re
• Publication Date: 2023-05-10T15:42:38Z
• Authors: Anne G. Oostlander; Laura Brodde; Miriam von Bargen; Marco Leiterholt; Dagmar Trautmann; Rasmus Enderle; Malin Elfstrand; Jan Stenlid; André Fleißner
• Keywords: Endophyte; Scots pine; Pathogenic fungus

Diplodia sapinea is a globally distributed opportunistic fungal pathogen of conifers that causes severe production losses in forestry. The fungus frequently colonizes pine trees as an endophyte without causing visible symptoms but can become pathogenic when the host plant weakened by stress, such drought or heat. Forest damage might therefore further increase due to effects climate change. future development control strategies depends on better understanding fungus’ biology, which requires experimental methods for its investigation laboratory. An efficient, standardized protocol and storage highly viable pycnidiospores was developed, spore-based infection method devised. We compared rates dormant actively growing, wounded, nonwounded Scots seedlings inoculated with vitro-produced spores mycelium from agar-plugs. Spores were much more efficient inoculum disease wounded plants than conventional agar plug. application lead high asymptomatic infection, suggesting endophytic development. These enable spore virulence assays promote D. model organism studying switch life styles forest pathogens.