Cypress Mortality: search the more probably damage cause by means of deductive and comparative analysis

The “cypress mortality” (“mal del ciprés”) is a disease of unknown causes, which affects cordillera cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) in Argentina. In this work a basic guide to diagnosing plant diseases and to compare the cypress mortality with other forest diseases is shown for its application, in order to identify the most probable cause of damage. The systematic management of the information permitted to establish that the dates are not sufficient to discriminate between different damage agents. The association between the cypress mortality and others forest diseases allowed us to verify that there are several difficulties to diagnose and manage this pathologies. We detected several key points of the disease that should be considered in future investigations: absence of specific symptoms, absence of signs, subjective assignment of the degree of defoliation and the associated sanitary state, absence of an analysis model for disturbance.El “mal del ciprés” es un disturbio de origen desconocido que afecta a ciprés de la cordillera (Austrocedrus chilensis) en Argentina. En este trabajo se plantea la aplicación de una guía básica para el diagnóstico de enfermedades de plantas con el fin de identificar la causa más probable de daño. Por otra parte, se compara el “mal del ciprés” con algunas enfermedades de especies forestales. El manejo sistemático de la información, logrado al aplicar la guía de diagnóstico, permitió establecer que los datos existentes son insuficientes para discriminar entre los diferentes grupos de agentes de daño. La comparación entre el “mal del ciprés” y diferentes enfermedades de especies forestales permitió comprobar que son muchas las dificultades que encierra el diagnóstico y el manejo de tales patologías. De la implementación de ambos enfoques surgieron algunos puntos claves de la afección que deberían ser considerados en investigaciones futuras: falta de especificidad de síntomas, falta de estudios de propagación, ausencia de signos de la afección, subjetividad en la asignación del grado de defoliación y el estado sanitario asociado, falta de un modelo de análisis para el disturbio.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Cypress Mortality: search the more probably damage cause by means of deductive and comparative analysis

The “cypress mortality” (“mal del ciprés”) is a disease of unknown causes, which affects cordillera cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) in Argentina. In this work a basic guide to diagnosing plant diseases and to compare the cypress mortality with other forest diseases is shown for its application, in order to identify the most probable cause of damage. The systematic management of the information permitted to establish that the dates are not sufficient to discriminate between different damage agents. The association between the cypress mortality and others forest diseases allowed us to verify that there are several difficulties to diagnose and manage this pathologies. We detected several key points of the disease that should be considered in future investigations: absence of specific symptoms, absence of signs, subjective assignment of the degree of defoliation and the associated sanitary state, absence of an analysis model for disturbance.El “mal del ciprés” es un disturbio de origen desconocido que afecta a ciprés de la cordillera (Austrocedrus chilensis) en Argentina. En este trabajo se plantea la aplicación de una guía básica para el diagnóstico de enfermedades de plantas con el fin de identificar la causa más probable de daño. Por otra parte, se compara el “mal del ciprés” con algunas enfermedades de especies forestales. El manejo sistemático de la información, logrado al aplicar la guía de diagnóstico, permitió establecer que los datos existentes son insuficientes para discriminar entre los diferentes grupos de agentes de daño. La comparación entre el “mal del ciprés” y diferentes enfermedades de especies forestales permitió comprobar que son muchas las dificultades que encierra el diagnóstico y el manejo de tales patologías. De la implementación de ambos enfoques surgieron algunos puntos claves de la afección que deberían ser considerados en investigaciones futuras: falta de especificidad de síntomas, falta de estudios de propagación, ausencia de signos de la afección, subjetividad en la asignación del grado de defoliación y el estado sanitario asociado, falta de un modelo de análisis para el disturbio.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Susceptibilidad diferencial al mal del ciprés entre sexos de Austrocedrus chilensis en la Patagonia (Argentina)

Female and male individuals of dioecious species have different reproductive functions and sex-related differences have been reported in growth rate, age at maturity, size, spatial distribution and physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Austrocedrus chilensis (ciprés de la cordillera) is a dioecious conifer native to Patagonian Temperate Forests. Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Argentina are seriously affected by cypress mortality which has been related to drought events and biotic agents. Sex-related differences in age at maturity, reproductive cost and their mitigation, that could influence the responses to cypress mortality, have been reported for A. chilensis. However, until now no study has been conducted to evaluate sex-related differences in the susceptibility of A. chilensis trees to cypress mortality. In this work we detected a higher proportion of female individuals among trees affected by cypress mortality than that detected among symptomless trees. Our results suggest that cypress mortality could determine not only sex ratio bias but also changes in reproductive dynamics in A. chilensis forests.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Susceptibilidad diferencial al mal del ciprés entre sexos de Austrocedrus chilensis en la Patagonia (Argentina)

Female and male individuals of dioecious species have different reproductive functions and sex-related differences have been reported in growth rate, age at maturity, size, spatial distribution and physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Austrocedrus chilensis (ciprés de la cordillera) is a dioecious conifer native to Patagonian Temperate Forests. Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Argentina are seriously affected by cypress mortality which has been related to drought events and biotic agents. Sex-related differences in age at maturity, reproductive cost and their mitigation, that could influence the responses to cypress mortality, have been reported for A. chilensis. However, until now no study has been conducted to evaluate sex-related differences in the susceptibility of A. chilensis trees to cypress mortality. In this work we detected a higher proportion of female individuals among trees affected by cypress mortality than that detected among symptomless trees. Our results suggest that cypress mortality could determine not only sex ratio bias but also changes in reproductive dynamics in A. chilensis forests.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una Reserva Forestal Nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called “mal del ciprés” (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de ciprés de la cordillera sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como “mal del ciprés”; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar su desarrollo temporal a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una reserva forestal nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called «mal del ciprés» (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de Austrocedrus chilensis sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como «mal del ciprés»; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar el desarrollo temporal de la mortalidad a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una reserva forestal nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called «mal del ciprés» (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de Austrocedrus chilensis sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como «mal del ciprés»; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar el desarrollo temporal de la mortalidad a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Susceptibilidad diferencial al mal del ciprés entre sexos de Austrocedrus chilensis en la Patagonia (Argentina)

Female and male individuals of dioecious species have different reproductive functions and sex-related differences have been reported in growth rate, age at maturity, size, spatial distribution and physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Austrocedrus chilensis (ciprés de la cordillera) is a dioecious conifer native to Patagonian Temperate Forests. Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Argentina are seriously affected by cypress mortality which has been related to drought events and biotic agents. Sex-related differences in age at maturity, reproductive cost and their mitigation, that could influence the responses to cypress mortality, have been reported for A. chilensis. However, until now no study has been conducted to evaluate sex-related differences in the susceptibility of A. chilensis trees to cypress mortality. In this work we detected a higher proportion of female individuals among trees affected by cypress mortality than that detected among symptomless trees. Our results suggest that cypress mortality could determine not only sex ratio bias but also changes in reproductive dynamics in A. chilensis forests.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Austrocedrus chilensis growth decline in relation to drought events in northern Patagonia, Argentina

The significant mortality of the Austrocedrus chilensis (D. Don) Pic. Serm. et Bizarri forests, locally known as “Mal del Cipres”, has been reported since 1945 for most sites across its distribution in Argentina. However, the cause of this decline is still a topic of discussion. In this study, radial growth patterns from symptomatic and asymptomatic A. chilensis trees were analyzed to determine the influence of drought events on tree growth. Fifty pairs of symptomatic and asymptomatic trees with similar DBH, competition, and microsite conditions were cored at five pure A. chilensis stands near El Bolson, Rio Negro, Argentina. A reference chronology from nonaffected trees was used to cross-date all cores and to determine the relationship between A. chilensis radial growth and climate. The growth of A. chilensis is favored by above average precipitation in late spring–early summer (November and December). A strong relationship was also observed between radial growth patterns and the Palmer drought severity index, a measure of the regional water deficit. Significant differences in growth patterns were recorded between symptomatic and asymptomatic trees. Following extreme drought events, the growth of symptomatic trees is consistently lower than in asymptomatic trees. Based on the larger number of droughts recorded during the past decades and on future climatic predictions suggesting increasing trends in the frequency and intensity of drought events in northern Patagonia, a gradual increase in the number of trees affected by “Mal del Cipres” along the twenty-first century is likely expected.Laboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y AmbientalesInstituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecula

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una reserva forestal nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called «mal del ciprés» (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de Austrocedrus chilensis sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como «mal del ciprés»; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar el desarrollo temporal de la mortalidad a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula