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Host susceptibility and microclimatic conditions influencing the development of blight diseases caused by Calonectria henricotiae

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Abstract

Boxwood blight caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata or Calonectria henricotiae is the major disease affecting boxwood (Buxus sp.). Other members of the Buxaceae family, Pachysandra and Sarcococca can also be infected. The trials reported here were conducted to test the susceptibility of Pachysandra terminalis ‘Compacta’ and Sarcococca confusa to this pathogen. The susceptibility of both species was compared to three different taxa of boxwood plants, representing three different levels of susceptibility to the pathogen: from the most susceptible Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ via the intermediate Buxus sempervirens var. arborescens to the most tolerant Buxus microphylla ‘Herrenhausen’. The experiments took place under in greenhouses and outside in a container field. Plants were artificially inoculated with AT01, further determined as a strain of Calonectria henricotiae. The progress of the disease was continuously monitored and parameters such as leafspotting, lesions and leaf drop were evaluated. Results show that the level of susceptibility of Pachysandra terminalis ‘Compacta’ to Calonectria henricotiae is low to moderate and comparable to the susceptibility of Buxus microphylla ‘Herrenhausen’ or, depending on the conditions, Buxus sempervirens var. arborescens. In our trial, Sarcococca confusa did not produce any symptoms of a disease caused by Calonectria henricotiae.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Lucija Jahn, Victoria Sommer, Elke Behrens and Carmen Wöhrn for technical assistance as well as all colleagues of Pflanzenschutzamt and LVG. We thank Dr. Kurt Heungens for providing G1, G2 as well as molecular analysis and Martin Horáček for his help with the statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science, Breeding and Plant Medicine, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Marie Bartíková & Ivana Šafránková

  2. Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony, Plant Protection Service, Sedanstr. 4, 26121, Oldenburg, Germany

    Thomas Brand

  3. Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony, Research Station for Horticulture, Hogen Kamp 51,, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany

    Heinrich Beltz

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  1. Marie Bartíková
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  4. Ivana Šafránková
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Correspondence to Marie Bartíková.

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Author M. Bartíková declares, that she has no conflict of interest. Author T. Brand declares, that he has no conflict of interest. Author H. Beltz declares, that he has no conflict of interest. Author I. Šafránková declares, that she has also no conflict of interest.

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Bartíková, M., Brand, T., Beltz, H. et al. Host susceptibility and microclimatic conditions influencing the development of blight diseases caused by Calonectria henricotiae. Eur J Plant Pathol 157, 103–117 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-020-01986-y

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