Future outlook for Pinus patula in South Africa in the presence of the pitch canker fungus (Fusarium circinatum)

dc.contributor.authorMitchell, R.G. (Richard Glen)
dc.contributor.authorCoutinho, Teresa A.
dc.contributor.authorSteenkamp, Emma Theodora
dc.contributor.authorHerbert, Martin
dc.contributor.authorWingfield, Michael J.
dc.date.accessioned2013-04-22T07:15:01Z
dc.date.available2014-04-30T00:20:06Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractApproximately 50% of the area planted to softwood trees in South Africa has been established with Pinus patula making it the most important pine species in the country. More effort has gone into developing this species for improved growth, tree form and wood properties than with any other species. This substantial investment has been threatened in the last 10 years by the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum. The fungus infects and contaminates nursery plants and, once transferred to the field, causes severe mortality of young trees in the first year after establishment. Although nurserymen have some control of the disease, it is recognized that the best long-term solution to mitigate damage due to F. circinatum infection is to identify tolerant species, clones and hybrids for deployment in plantations in the future. Research has shown that alternatives such as P. tecunumanii, P. maximinoi and P. elliottii are suitable for warm sites. Pine hybrids, particularly between P. patula and the high elevation sources of P. tecunumanii, appear to be a suitable replacement on sub-temperate and temperate sites. Although these alternative species and hybrids are more sensitive to sub-freezing temperatures than P. patula, their planting range can be increased by including cold tolerance as a selection criterion. Future breeding efforts will most certainly focus on improving the tolerance of pure P. patula to F. circinatum, which can be achieved by identifying specific family crosses and tolerant clones. The commercial deployment of disease tolerant control-pollinated P. patula and hybrid families will most likely be established as rooted cuttings, which requires more advanced propagation technology. In the long term, new seed orchards comprised of P. patula clones tolerant to F. circinatum will be used to produce seed for seedling production.en_US
dc.description.librarianhb2013en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tsfs20en_US
dc.identifier.citationMitchell, RG, Coutinho, TA, Steenkamp, E, Herbert, M & Wingfield, MJ 2012, 'Future outlook for Pinus patula in South Africa in the presence of the pitch canker fungus (Fusarium circinatum)', Southern Forests , vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 203-210.en_US
dc.identifier.issn2070-2620 (print)
dc.identifier.issn2070-2639 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.2989/20702620.2012.741792
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/21341
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_US
dc.rights© NISC (Pty) Ltd. This is an electronic version of an article published in Southern Forests, vol. 74, no. 4, pp.203-210,2012. Southern Forests is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tsfs20en_US
dc.subjectCamcoreen_US
dc.subjectPinus patulaen_US
dc.subjectPinus patula x Pinus tecunumaniien_US
dc.subjectFusarium circinatumen_US
dc.subjectSite-species matchingen_US
dc.titleFuture outlook for Pinus patula in South Africa in the presence of the pitch canker fungus (Fusarium circinatum)en_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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