Les 09 05 1 Alnus.Indd

JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 51, 2005 (9): 381–391 Some aspects of alder decline along the Lužnice River I. VYHLÍDKOVÁ, D. PALOVČÍKOVÁ, M. RYBNÍČEK, P. ČERMÁK, L. JANKOVSKÝ Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Brno, Czech Republic ABSTRACT: Alder decline along watercourses is one of the marked manifestations of tree decline in the Czech Re- public. Local decline of alder trees is documented in the Czech Republic for about 15 years. The aim of this paper is to evaluate causes of alder decline and assess health conditions of other species of riparian stands at 2 localities on the medium reach of the Lužnice River. Effects were studied of abiotic and biotic stressors on the health condition of tree species. No fungal pathogen was found in tissues of declining alders which would be present in all trees and which could be considered to be the main causal agent of the decline. Even an occurrence of the causal agent of alder decline named alder-Phytophthora has not been proved. Tree-ring analyses demonstrated decreasing trends of an increment in alders; however, an abiotic or biotic factor showing direct effects on the fluctuation of tree ring dimensions has not been positively determined. A marked role in the alder decline is demonstrated particularly by abiotic factors accompanied by the secondary activation of some pathogens. Generally, the phenomenon can be named as polyetiologic decline. Keywords: Alnus; decline; tree-ring study; fungi; pathogens; environmental stress Alder decline along watercourses is one of the rather topical the problems have not been studied marked manifestations of tree decline in the Czech adequately yet. Republic (CR) assuming locally the character of an On the medium reach of the Lužnice River, alder epidemic. The local decline of alder is documented decline began to show more markedly in spring in the CR for about 15 years. Since 1993 when a 2003, ie about 8 months after a disastrous flood in new hybrid pathogen named alder-Phytophthora August 2002. Crowns of alders became dry, leaves was isolated in Great Britain for the first time, alder were reduced and dark brown to black necrotic spots decline is linked with the pathogen throughout west- occurred on the lower part of stems. At the end of ern and Central Europe. Also in the CR, a number summer 2003, defoliation of some trees reached even of present papers deal with alder decline caused 100%. However, there is a question if alder trees de- by parasitic fungi particularly of the genus Phyto- clined already before the flood which subsequently phthora. However, none of recent papers regards supported the process of decline or if the flood func- the alder decline as a phenomenon caused by the tioned as a trigger of the extensive die-back of alder whole complex of biotic and abiotic factors. Effects along the Lužnice River. of floods on the health condition of alder and other Alder creates arbuscular endomycorrhiza with species along watercourses have not been studied in Zygomycetes, particularly with genera Glomus and detail. Although problems of the resistance of spe- Gigaspora. At the same time, it creates ectomy- cies of riparian stands to the long-term waterlogging corrhiza. A number of ectomycorrhizal fungi is of a locality and their suitability for planting along specific for alder, viz Lactarius lilacinus (Lasch: Fr.) watercourses in the period of frequent floods are Fr., Lactarius obscuratus (Lasch) Fr. and Russula Supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, Project No. 6215648902, and Grant Agency of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno Projects. J. FOR. SCI., 51, 2005 (9): 381–391 381 pumila Rouzeau et Massart, Paxillus rubicundulus The role of the fungus in the process of decline is, P.D.Orton. etc. however, rather problematic. Alder is the only indigenous species creating In 1993, a fungus very similar to Phytophthora symbiosis with actinomycetes of the genus Frankia cambivora (Petri) Buisman was isolated from de- spp. which, after the penetration into the alder root, clining alders at some localities in Great Britain. stimulate cells of a primary bark to divide and colo- In Europe, it is a rather frequent pathogen of roots nize originating tissues of root nodules. Frankia is of hard-wooded broadleaves (BRASIER et al. 1995). able to bind atmospheric nitrogen fixation values Subsequently, it was found that it referred to a new being comparable with values in Rhizobium spp. li- hybrid of taxa Phytophthora cambivora and P. fra- ving in symbiosis with plants of the family Fabaceae gariae Hickman with a characteristic behaviour (STRUKOVÁ 1997). and morphological properties which was named Attention was paid to the decline of alder in alder-Phytophthora (BRASIER et al. 1999 in STREI- Europe already before 1900. However, causes and TO 2003). Symptoms of the attack were typical of a detailed description of symptoms of the decline the genus Phytophthora known from the decline of mostly do not occur and often only one factor of other broadleaved species. Crowns of trees dried, the decline is mentioned. During the first half of leaves were abnormally small and yellow. Dead roots the 20th century, the symptoms began to be docu- were often without bark. The decline is accompanied mented in more details and it was taken into ac- with necroses of conductive tissues of roots and count that the cause of the decline can consist in lower parts of a stem with dark effluxes from bark the whole complex of factors. These factors then lesions. act in synergy or, more frequently, subsequently. The problem of alder decline linked with alder- Alder decline caused by the number of pathogenic Phytophthora is known from Great Britain, the factors is manifested in the colour of leaves, dwarf Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Austria, growth of the whole crown and subsequent death Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Hungary (GIBBS, of some main branches or of the whole tree (CECH, VAN DIJK 2003; CLAESSENS 2003; LONSDALE HENDRY 2003). 2003). In 2001, the pathogen was detected in the In the 50s of the last century, a marked dieback Czech Republic (GREGOROVÁ et al. 2003). Alder- of alder occurred in Tuscany (MORIONDO 1958 in Phytophthora was detected in three European CECH, HENDRY 2003). Symptoms in a crown were species of alder, viz Alnus glutinosa, A. incana and not noted; the main symptom of decline was thus A. cordata. The majority of records refers to Alnus the presence of delimited bark necroses on the alder glutinosa which is most related to riparian stands stem. These necroses gradually developed in canker (STREITO 2003). resulting in the formation of longitudinal cracks in The only reliable evidence of the disease is isolation bark. A bacterium Erwinia alni Surico et al. was of the pathogen which is, however, rather problem- identified (SURICO et al. 1996 in CECH, HENDRY atic (GREGOROVÁ et al. 2003). 2003) in wounds. Drought in a summer period was considered to be Two species of fungi are often related to bark the primary cause of alder decline since 1825 (AL- necroses: Ophiovalsa suffusa (Fr.) Petr. and Valsa THANN 1889 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). oxystoma Rehm (HARTIG 1894; MÜNCH 1927; NI- Records on damage to alder in Central Europe due JPELS 1900; SCHWARZ 1928; TRUTER 1947; VON to intense winter frosts are rare. On the other hand, TOBEUF 1893 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). But some it was found that abnormally mild winter could in- exceptions (APPEL 1904; NIJPELS 1900; SCHWARZ crease the sensibility of alder to early frosts (AUGST 1928 in CECH, HENDRY 2003) the authors treat the 1903 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). fungi as secondary parasites. Drainage and channelization of streams and rivers In central Poland, dieback of individual branches often resulted in the destruction of riparian alder and whole crowns of alders occurred in 1991. A fun- stands in Europe. In 1891, floods on the Odra River gus Melanconium apiocarpon Link. (KWASNA 1993) in Poland destroyed extensive stands of black alder was identified as a originator of the decline. (SCHMIDT 1892 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). Intense In 1997, a pathogen Pseudomonas syringae van floods on the Danube River in 1892 caused deposi- Hall was isolated from twigs and leaves of black alder tions of the thick layer of mud at lower parts of stems in Italy. This pathogen caused their necrotic injury of black alder which resulted in the rot of roots, de- (SCORTICHINI 1997). crease in increment and death of many trees (EISEN- The main cause of disturbing buds is related to the MENGER 1894 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). In northern attack of a fungus Sporidesmium wroblewski Bubák. Germany, the period between 1912 and 1932 was 382 J. FOR. SCI., 51, 2005 (9): 381–391 characterized by heavy rains, repeated floods and of the decline were very variable and heterogene- elevated groundwater table which resulted in the die- ous. Terminal shoots of thin branches in crowns back of young alders due to the shortage of oxygen in exhibited decreased increment and loss of foliage. soil (GASSERT 1934 in CECH, HENDRY 2003). Thus, marked thinning of crowns occurred. Small Alder decline affected black alder Alnus glutinosa leaves often occurred in crowns of declining alders (L.) Gaertn. already at the end of the 19th and at the (JANČAŘÍK 1993). beginning of the 20th century. It occurred also in ar- At the end of the 90s, several foci of the new type of tificially planted trees which grew well in the course alder decline occurred in our country. Symptoms of of the first 10 to 12 years and soon began to produce damage were similar as in other regions of Europe.

Load more