"eJ forest (research
No. 118, MaJ!..2002
. PINE PITCH CANKER REACHES SOUTH AMERICA Pine pitch canker disease (FHNews 111:1) was recently discovered for the first time in South America, in the vicinity of Concepci6n in Chile'. Unhealthy container- grown seedlings and open-rooting cutting stools of Pinus radiata with characteristic resin-bleeding symptoms were found to be infected by the causal fungus, Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini (synonym, F. circ.inatum, also known as Gibberella circinata). Young plants affected by this disease exude resin from around the root colIar, which also soaks into the adjacent wood tissues, and death folIows soon after. As in South Africa, where pine pitch canker was --foWld on nursery stock in [99~fue disease has- not-yet been found in pine plantations in Chile.
Pinus radiata regeneration dying from pine pitch canker disease in California
'New Disease Reports 4:
. FOREST BIOSECURITY IN REVERSE
The arrival of pine pitch canker disease in South America is yet another reminder of the enhanced risk of new incursions resulting from increasing trade and travel, and of the need for constant vigilance. The vision of an overarching biosecurity strategy currently being developed for New Zealand is a logical response to a comparatively . I~ recent spate of pest and pathogen introductions, folIowing i. ... --- sweeping changes in administrative policies over the past SeedlingsofPinns radiatawith pine pitch canker disease, 15 years. Other countries are equalIy aware of the showingroot collar resin bleeding importance of biosecurity. In March this year the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted Plantation forestry in Chile, like that in New Zealand, is an international standard governing, among other items, the based on P. radi()ta, so this incursion is a real issue for the treatment of solid wood packing materials such as crates, industry in that country. Concern is heightened by the palIets, and dunnage, in order to impede the transport of results of research undertaken in the United States showing forest pests hitchhiking in this materiaP. There has already that several~~E! pest.s present in Chile are c~I>ableo( -been critieism,-some of-it originating from quarters in-the-- vectoring and transporting Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. United States, that the agreed measures are not sufficiently pini between specimens of P. radiata. Insects able to rigorous. The US is very conscious of the threat to its transmit this fungus include a number of cone, twig and forests from introduced pests, and has developed stringent bark beetles, pine weevils and spittlebugs. These pests regulations to prevent new introductions. For some years it create wounds, which enable the fungus to invade and infect the host. Insects are believed to be the main means of has been necessary to process logs from New Zealand forests destined for the US by removing the bark and disease spread in stands of P. radiata in California, while applying fungicide and insecticide soon after felIing. infection of wounds by airborne spores is probably rare. Pine pitch canker disease is currently regarded as one of the These requirements were established as a result of the most serious international biosecurity threats to pine increased export log trade to the US during the 1990s. In plantations, especialIy in the Southern Hemisphere, and its 1992 a team from the US Department of Agriculture Forest continuing global spread is of particular concern to New Service spent a period in New Zealand at the request of the Zealand. New Zealand, Australia, and Chile are currently US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in participating in a colIaborative programme to screen order to assess the risk to US forests from logs originating breeding lines of P. radiata for susceptibility to the disease. in this country, and to prepare a comprehensive report'. The objective is to identifY families demonstrating FuII cooperation was given by Industry and Government resistance that may form the basis for a selection and representatives in New Zealand, and in particular by the breeding strategy. Forest Health Group, Forest Research, who made available Newsletter of the Forest Health and Biosecurity Project, and the Forest Health Reference Laboratory (incorporating the Forest Research Mycological Herbarium (NZFRI-M), the Forest Research Culture Collection (NZFS), and the National Forest Insect Collection (FRNZ). Edited by lan Hood, Ne.w Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua.
At present Americans are particularly conscious of the menace New host and new distribution record for New Zealand - Insect: of new incursions, as a result of the threat posed by the Asian Acrocercops laciniella; Bioregion: Taupo; Host: Eucalyptus longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) which appeared delegatensis; Coll: C Barr, 9/4/2002; Ident: R Crabtree, 16/4/2002. i!1New York in 1996, and in Chicago two years later (FHNews New host record for New Zealand - Insect: Gastrosarusnigricollis; 106:1,110:1). Already many hardwood trees have been Bioregion: Auckland; Host: Agonis jlexuosa; Coll: BJ Rogan, destroyed, and potential losses could exceed US$650 billion, 26/3/2002; Ident: J Bain, 4/4/2002; Comments: Gastrosarus according to one estimate. This new pest is now considered nigricollis has been recorded as twig borer in a variety of native and important enough to have become the subject of a exotic hosts including Betula spp, Cassinia spp, Crataegus sp, comprehensive artjcle featuring in the latest issue of Time Cyathodes spP. Discaria toumatou, Fagus sylvatica, Leptospermum magazine (27 May, US edition). scoparium, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Metrosideros spp, Nothofagus spp, Platanus spp, Pomaderris phylicifolia, Prunus spp, Quercus spp, (Editor) Ulmus spp. and Weinmannia racemosa. . "CANADIAN VISITORS New distribution record for New Zealand - Insect: Nematus oligospilus; Bioregion: Mid Canterbury; Host: Salix sp.; Coll: RF Canadians are also concerned about the risk .of new pest Thurn, 19/3/2002;Ident: R Crabtree,26/3/2002. introductions into North America from this part of the world. In mid April Lee Humble and Eric Alien (entomologist and New distribution record for New Zealand - Insect: Nematus pathologist respectively) from the Pacific' Forestry Centre, oligospilus; Bioregion: Dunedin; Host: Sallx sp.; Coli: RF Thum, Canadian Forest Servic.e visited Forest Research. They were 4/4/2002;Ident: R Crabtree,9/4/2002. accompanied by Shane Sela from the Canadian Food New distribution record for New Zealand "- Insect: Pleistodontes Inspection Agency. This agency is responsible for forestry froggatti; Bioregion: Taranaki; Host: Ficus macrophylla; Coll: L quarantine matters in Canada. The prime reason for their trip Renney, 27/3/2002; Ident: R Crabtree, 3/4/2002; Comments: This is down under was to discuss the importation of eucalypt logs the Moreton Bay fig wasp the female of which lays her eggs in the into Canada with Australian authorities and while in the base of the fig's flowers and in so doing pollinates the flower. The vicinity they took the opportunity to visit New Zealand and flower responds by develop a gall around the eggs. meet up with people with similar interests. Apart from New host record for New Zealand - Insect: Quadraspidiotus members of the Forest Health team at Forest Research they met perniciosus; Bioregion: Waikato; Host: Acmena smithii; Coll: C Barr, with MAF Forest Biosecurity people in Wellington and various 5/4/2002; Ident: C Appleton, 8/4/2002. other groups. New host record for New Zealand - Insect: Strepsicrates Eric is researching the disinfestation of imported products and macropetana; Bioregion: Wellington; Host: Melaleucafidgens; Coll: packaging, and his work parallels that being done by Frontline BJ Rogan, 1/3/2002; Ident: R Hoare, 29/4/2002; Comments: Not Biosecurity and Forest Research in this country. Fruitful found on Melaleuca before, host range has previously been only discussions were held with Geoff Ridley on the joint within the genus Eucalyptus. publication of results and future collaboration in this field. (GeoflRidley, Forest Research)