Determining the Novel Pathogen Neodothiora populina as the Causal Agent of the Aspen Running Canker Disease in Alaska

Authors

Loretta M. Winton, USDA Forest Service
Gerard C. Adams, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Roger W. Ruess, University of Alaska

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology

Publisher

Taylor & Francis Inc.

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Publication Date

8-11-2021

Creative Commons License

This work has been identified with a Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Abstract

Neodothiora populina Crous, G.C. Adams & Winton was determined to be a new pathogen of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) growing in Alaska, based on completion of Koch’s Postulates in replicated forest and growth chamber inoculation trials. The pathogen is responsible for severe damage and widespread rapid mortality of sapling to mature aspen (≥ 80 years) in the boreal forests of interior Alaska, due to large diffuse annual (1–2 years) cankers. Isolation of the pathogen was challenging, and identification based on cultural characters was difficult. Fruiting bodies were not found on wild diseased trees, but erumpent pycnidia were found in bark overlying cankers on several stems inoculated with pure cultures.

Recommended Citation

Winton, L. M., G. C. Adams, and R. W. Ruess. 2021. Determining the novel pathogen Neodothiora populina as the causal agent of the aspen running canker disease in Alaska. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology:1-12.