The Christmas Tree: Traditions, Production, and Diseases

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Chastagner ◽  
D. Michael Benson
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Stem Canker ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Current Season ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Needle Blight

This article takes a historical look at the Christmas tree industry and discuss three diseases limiting growers' ability to meet the demand for noble and Fraser fir in North America: Phytophthora root rot and stem canker, current season needle necrosis (CSNN), and interior needle blight. Accepted for publication 14 September 2000. Published 13 October 2000.

scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Epidemiology of Phytophthora Root Rot in Fraser Fir Plantations

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1171-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
L. F. Grand ◽  
C. S. Vernia ◽  
T. R. Gottwald
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Over Time

In 1999, 19 plots of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) with a disease focus were established in commercial plantings grown for Christmas tree production in the mountains of five western North Caro-lina counties. Progress of Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi as estimated by mortality was followed in each plot over 3 to 4 years in an attempt to understand dispersal of inoculum. Slope, aspect, and field production age at the time plots were established were recorded. Rainfall estimated from National Weather Service stations each growing season also was recorded. The relationship of site parameters and rainfall to dispersal and disease was investigated. Disease incidence and mortality were assessed in June and September each year for 3 or 4 years depending on plot. Phytophthora root rot as estimated by mortality counts over time in a logistic regression model progressed in only five of 19 plots over 3 years. None of the site parameters correlated with mortality data, although slightly more disease was found in plots with a north aspect. Rainfall was below normal in the 3 years of the study and did not correlate with mortality in any year. Lack of disease progress in the majority of plots was attributed to drought conditions in the region. In the five plots where mortality increased over time, spatial analysis suggested an aggregated pattern of diseased plants. Aggregation was apparent but not very strong among nearest neighbors, but was considerably stronger among groups of trees within a local area. This aggregation within groups was stronger when larger group sizes were examined by beta-binomial analysis. A spatial analysis by distance indices method (SADIE) indicated the presence of secondary clusters occurring several meters away from the main focus. A stochastic model also was employed that indicated a combination of spatial processes were likely involved, specifically a tendency toward spread within a local area, but not necessarily to the nearest neighboring trees, combined with an influence of background inoculum that could not be accounted for within local areas and may have come from external sources. Thus, all sources of inoculum including infected planting stock, inoculum in soil, infected trees, and contaminated equipment were equally important in epidemics of Phytophthora root rot in Fraser fir and dispersal of P. cinnamomi.

scholarly journals Incidence of Phytophthora Root Rot of Fraser Fir in North Carolina and Sensitivity of Isolates of Phytophthora cinnamomi to Metalaxyl

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
L. F. Grand
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
The State ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Phytophthora Spp ◽  
Old Trees

A survey of Fraser fir Christmas trees in North Carolina for incidence of Phytophthora root rot was conducted during 1997 and 1998. Field sites (7- to 13-year-old trees) and nursery transplant beds (4- to 5-year-old trees) selected at random were surveyed based on foliar symptoms of Phytophthora root rot. Field sites were surveyed with a random transect method (>3,000 trees/field) or by counting all trees (<3,000 trees/field). Overall, incidence of Phytophthora root rot averaged 9% over the 58 field sites sampled, with a range of 0 to 75%. No relationship was found between number of years Fraser fir had been planted in the field site and disease incidence. Disease incidence did not increase as field sites were rotated through second or third crops of Fraser fir. Phytophthora spp. were recovered from 1.8% of asymptomatic trees sampled from 58 field sites across the state. P. cinnamomi accounted for 91% of the Phytophthora isolates recovered. In nursery transplant beds where a systematic sampling procedure was used, incidence of diseased trees averaged 2%, with a range of 0 to 12% across 16 locations. Recovery of Phytophthora spp. averaged 1.2% from root samples collected from 50 asymptomatic seedlings at each location. Isolates collected from the field and nursery transplant beds were grown on cornmeal agar incorporated with 0, 1, 1.25, 10, or 100 μg a.i. metalaxyl/ml. All 166 isolates of P. cinnamomi tested were sensitive to metalaxyl at 1 or 1.25 μg a.i. metalaxyl/ml. Although incidence of Phytophthora root rot has not increased in the state compared to a survey done in 1976 to 1977, the disease continues to limit production of Fraser fir in North Carolina.

Control of Phytophthora Root Rot in Field Plantings of Fraser Fir with Fosetyl-Al and Mefenoxam

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
J. R. Sidebottom ◽  
J. Moody
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Flood Plain ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Western North Carolina

Fungicides were evaluated for control of Phytophthora root rot for five growing seasons in two field plantings of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) affected by Phytophthora cinnamomi in western North Carolina. At the first site, which had a fairly well-drained soil, treatment programs with Aliette (5 lb/100 gal, three applications per year), Subdue Maxx (3.7 fl oz/1.15 gal/1000 ft2, two applications per year), and Subdue GR (5.75 lb/1000 ft2, two applications per year) maintained low rates of mortality (< 10%) for three growing seasons, whereas tree mortality in the untreated plots reached 13 and 37% by the second and third growing seasons, respectively. At the second site, which was in a flood plain, disease did not develop during the first 2.5 years, even in untreated control plots. However, mortality increased rapidly following several high-rainfall events, but none of the fungicides had any effect on disease development. Apparently, at least under conditions not overly conducive to the disease, the fungicide treatment programs can delay the onset of high mortality rates caused by P. cinnamomi in Fraser fir for up to three growing seasons. Accepted for publication 23 February 2006. Published 31 March 2006.

scholarly journals Phytophthora abietivora, A New Species Isolated from Diseased Christmas Trees in Connecticut, U.S.A.

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3057-3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Wei Li ◽  
Neil P. Schultes ◽  
James A. LaMondia ◽  
Richard S. Cowles
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
The World ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
A New Species

A number of fir species (Abies) are produced as Christmas trees around the world. In particular, Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) is popular as it yields high-quality Christmas trees in temperate North America and Europe. A Phytophthora sp. causing root rot on Fraser fir was isolated from a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut, U.S.A., and found to be new to science according to morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis using multilocus DNA sequences from ITS, Cox1, β-Tub, Nadh1, and Hsp90 loci. Thus, it was described and illustrated as Phytophthora abietivora. An informative Koch’s postulates test revealed that P. abietivora was the pathogen causing root rot of Fraser fir.

scholarly journals Microbial Profiling of Cultural Systems for Suppression of Phytophthora Root Rot in Fraser Fir

Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 537-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Richter ◽  
D. M. Benson ◽  
K. L. Ivors
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Cellulase Activity ◽  
Cultural Control ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Biological Variables ◽  
Tree Survival

Phytophthora root rot of Fraser fir, caused by several Phytophthora spp., is a severe problem in Christmas tree production. Since fungicides are not economically viable for disease management in field plantings and host resistance is not available, cultural control methods were investigated. Mulches, dairy compost, and soil pH adjustment were tested at five field sites in North Carolina. Treatments included wood chips, wood chips plus compost, or pine bark as raised beds, and compost or sulfur tilled into soil. Soil and mulch microbial populations were characterized by dilution plating and calculation of a log series diversity index, and by enzyme analyses at 5, 12, 17, and 24 months after planting. Bacterial and fungal counts, microbial activity, and cellulase activity were higher in mulch than in soil at all sites and times (P < 0.01), and generally did not differ among mulch types or among soils. Treatments significantly affected disease ratings and tree survival at three of five sites, with one or more mulch treatments yielding lower disease ratings and greater survival than controls. Tree mortality at each time point varied significantly with cellulase activity in the upper root zone (P = 0.005). Other biological variables did not show significant relationships with disease ratings or mortality.

scholarly journals Fungicide Efficacy in Prevention of Root Rot Incited by Phytophthora cactorum and Phytophthora drechsleri in Fraser Fir Seedlings

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 470-475
Author(s):  
Benjamin K. Hoover ◽  
R.M. Bates
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cactorum ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Foliar Disease ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Phytophthora Drechsleri ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Tree Production

The most serious disease problem in fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Christmas tree production is phytophthora root rot (PRR). The efficacies of six fungicide treatments in preventing PRR incited by Phytophthora cactorum and P. drechsleri in 2-year-old fraser fir seedlings were evaluated in 2010 and 2011 in central Pennsylvania. The study examined five fungicide drench treatments [dimethomorph, fosetyl-aluminum (fosetyl-Al), hydrogen dioxide, mefenoxam, propamocarb hydrochloride] and one soil spray treatment (mefenoxam) in raised planting boxes. Dimethomorph applied on 14-day intervals prevented foliar disease symptoms and mortality in fraser fir seedlings exposed to either P. cactorum or P. drechsleri. One-time application of fosetyl-Al or mefenoxam were effective at times in preventing foliar disease symptoms and mortality in fraser fir seedlings exposed to P. drechsleri but were not as effective against P. cactorum.

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