First Report of Pitch Canker Disease on Pinus rigida in Korea

Abstract

Pitch canker of Pinus rigida, caused by Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini, was first noticed in Inchon, Korea, and is now being spread into other plantations of pines. Typical symptoms re resin flows from canders on the shoots, branches, and trunks, and resin-soaking of the sap wood under the bark. Pathogenic fungi were isolated from the infected shoots, branches, and sees on Fusarium-selective medium. Mycelial growth and microscopic characteristics were examined. Pathogenicity test was carried out by inoculating four common species of pines (P. rigida, P. densiflora, P. thunbergii, and P. koraiensis) in Korea. P. rigida and P. thunbergii showed symptoms identical to those of naturally infected trees, while P. densiflora and P. koraiensis remained free symptomless.