Pathogenicity of Swedish isolates of Phytophthora quercina to Quercus robur in two different soils

Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of soil-borne Phytophthora species, especially Phytophthora quercina , in European oak decline. However, knowledge about the pathogenicity of P. quercina in natural forest soils is limited. The short-term effects of two south-Swedish isolates of P. quercina on root vitality of Quercus robur seedlings grown in two different soils, one high pH, nutrient-rich peat-sand mixture and one acid, nitrogen-rich but otherwise nutrient-poor forest soil are described. Pathogenicity of P. quercina was tested using a soil infestation method under a restricted mesic water regime without prolonged flooding of the seedlings. There was a significant difference in dead fine-root length between control seedlings and seedlings grown in soil infested with P. quercina . Trends were similar for both soil types and isolates, but there was a higher percentage of fine-root die-back and more severe damage on coarse roots in the acid forest soil. No effects on above-ground growth or leaf nutrient concentration between control seedlings and infected seedlings were found. The results confirm the pathogenicity of south-Swedish isolates of P. quercina in acid forest soils under restricted water availability. Stress-induced susceptibility of the seedlings and/or increased aggressiveness of the pathogen in the forest soil are discussed as key factors to explain the difference in root die-back between soil types

First records of soilborne Phytophthora species in Swedish oak forests

Thirty-two oak stands in southern Sweden, 27 with predominantly declining trees and five with a higher proportion of healthy trees were investigated regarding the presence of soilborne Phytophthora species. Phytophthora quercina , an oak-specific fine root pathogen, was isolated from rhizosphere soil samples in 10 of the 27 declining stands. Additionally, P. cactorum and P. cambivora were recovered from one stand each. No Phytophthora species were isolated from the healthy oak stands. The soil conditions at the sites from which Phytophthora spp. were recovered ranged from mesic sediments to moraines, with clayey to silty textures and with soil pH (BaCl2) between 3.5 and 5.0. The results show that P. quercina is geographically widespread in oak stands in southern Sweden and indicate that this pathogen may be one of the factors involved in oak decline in Northern Europe as has already been shown for western, Central and parts of southern Europe

Phytophthora and Oak Decline - Impact on Seedlings and Mature Trees in Forest Soils

This thesis investigated the occurrence of soilborne species of the plant pathogenic genus Phytophthora in southern Swedish oak forests and their possible involvement in southern Swedish oak decline. The emphasis was on the impact of P. quercina on Quercus robur in acid forest soils. Several different methods, including screening for Phytophthora in oak forest soils, greenhouse experiments with seedlings grown in soils inoculated with Phytophthora, and field studies of mature oaks growing in Phytophthora-infested stands, were used. The results showed that Phytophthora species occur in southern Swedish oak forests. The most frequently recovered species was P. quercina, which was found in 10 of 32 investigated oak stands. In addition, P. cactorum and P. cambivora (mating type A2) were recovered from one stand each. The soil conditions at the sites from which Phytophthoras were recovered ranged from mesic sediments to moraines, with clayey to silty textures and with pH(BaCl2) in the rhizosphere soil between 3.5 and 5.0. In greenhouse studies, P. quercina and P. cactorum were found to infect and cause substantial damage to roots of Q. robur seedlings grown in acid forest soils under a mesic water regime. The presence of the natural soil microflora did not hinder the pathogens from infecting and damaging the roots. In addition, significant differences in live fine-root length were found between healthy mature oaks and declining mature oaks growing in stands infested with P. quercina. No such difference was found between trees growing in non-infested stands. The impact of the pathogen on mature oaks seemed to depend on tree vitality, site and climatic conditions. Despite the significant reductions in live fine-root length of both seedlings and mature oaks, few differences in above-ground growth (measured only in seedlings) and leaf nutrient concentrations were detected. However, it seems likely that continuous root infections, with subsequent replacement of roots, will deplete the carbohydrate stores in the plant and cause reductions in the production of new root and shoot tissue as well as in the production of secondary metabolites. This may result in an increased susceptibility of the tree to further pathogen infections as well as to other stress factors. A weak association was found between the occurrence of P. quercina and the vitality of oak stands (determined from estimates of crown defoliation). The impact of soil type on carbon allocation patterns in plants and its consequences for the extent of root damage caused by P. quercina is discussed, as well as the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the aggressiveness of Phytophthora, susceptibility of oak and subsequent disease development

A comparative study of two methods for determination of pH, exchangeable base cations, and aluminum

The ability to compare soil chemical data achieved by different chemical extraction methods is a necessity for an efficient long-term monitoring of soils and for comparisons of results from regional soil surveys with differing standard methods. This study compares two common, methods for analysis of soil chemical properties, the combination of soil extraction in 1.0 M NH4Cl and 1.0 M KCl and the single extraction method using 0.1 M BaCl2. Results show that the two methods do not differ in extraction capability with regard to pH and exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). However, there is less agreement in extraction capability with regard. to potassium (K), sodium (Na), and aluminum (Al). For these elements, BaCl2 is less efficient than NH4Cl and KCl. Despite the differences in extraction capability between BaCl2 and KCl/NH4Cl, regression analyses showed that the methods are well correlated (high regression coefficients for all, elements). Thus, transformation of data achieved by one method to estimated values of the other method are possible. Results from this study may be an important tool for comparisons of mineral soil data achieved by the two methods

Acidification-induced chemical changes in coniferous forest soils in southern Sweden 1988-1999

Thirty-two Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in southern Sweden were studied for a period of 12 years to evaluate acidification-induced chemical changes in the soil. Soil, at 20-30 cm depth in the mineral layer, was sampled three times during this period (1988, 1993 and 1999). The results show that pH(BaCl2) in mineral soil decreased by, on average, 0.17 units between 1988 and 1999, accompanied by an increase in aluminium (Al) concentration and a decrease in base saturation in the soil. In 1999, the base saturation was below 5% in 58% of the 32 sites compared with 16% in 1988 and 7% in 1993. Concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) are low and decreasing. Based on C/N ratios in humus, 45% of the sites may be subjected to leaching of considerable amounts of nitrate. The results show that the acidification of coniferous forest soils in southern Sweden is continuing, and that the negative effects on the nutrient status in soil are extensive. The results are compared with reference values for productive, long-term sustainably managed boreal coniferous or mixed forest soils and implications for long-term sustainability are discussed

Relationships between health of Quercus robur, occurrence of Phytophthora species and site conditions in southern Sweden

The effect of Phytophthora species, soil chemistry, precipitation and temperature on the vitality of oak was evaluated in 32 oak stands in southern Sweden. In addition, the relationship between the occurrence of Phytophthora species and soil conditions was determined. The results showed that there was a weak association between the presence of P. quercina, the most frequently recovered Phytophthora species in southern Sweden, and the vitality of the oak stands (determined from estimates of crown defoliation of individual trees). The pathogens occurred more frequently in clayey and loamy soils that were less acidic and which had higher base saturation. However, they were found in all but the most acidic soils (pH < 3.5). In stands where Phytophthora species were not present, positive correlations between the average crown defoliation and proportion of damaged trees with average summer precipitation and average annual precipitation were found. There were no significant differences in soil chemistry between healthy and declining stands included in this study, and no significant correlations were found between any soil parameter and crown vitality. Based on the results from these 32 oak stands, it is likely that the decline of oaks in southern Sweden can be attributed to several different site-specific factors, such as infection by P. quercina or unusual weather events, which interact with a number of biotic and abiotic factors, leading to oak decline

Do oaks have different strategies for uptake of N, K and P depending on soil depth?

The uptake of nutrients from deep soil layers has been shown to be important for the long-term nutrient sustainability of forest soils. When modelling nutrient uptake in forest ecosystems, the nutrient uptake capacity of trees is usually defined by the root distribution. However, this leads to the assumption that roots at different soil depths have the same capacity to take up nutrients. To investigate if roots located at different soil depths differ in their nutrient uptake capacity, here defined as the nutrient uptake rate under standardized conditions, a bioassay was performed on excised roots (< 1 mm) of eight oak trees (Quercus robur L.). The results showed that the root uptake rate of Rb-86(+) (used as an analogue for K+ stop) declined with increasing soil depth, and the same trend was found for NH4+. The root uptake rate of H2PO4-, on the other hand, did not decrease with soil depth. These different physiological responses in relation to soil depth indicate differences in the oak roots, and suggest that fine roots in shallow soil layers may be specialized in taking up nutrients such as K+ and NH4+ which have a high availability in these layers, while oak roots in deep soil layers are specialized in taking up other resources, such as P, which may have a high availability in deep soil layers. Regardless of the cause of the difference in uptake trends for the various nutrients, these differences have consequences for the modelling of the soil nutrient pool beneath oak trees and raise the question of whether roots can be treated uniformly, as has previously been done in forest ecosystem models