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Calcium mineral nutrition increases the tolerance of Quercus ilex to Phytophthora root disease affecting oak rangeland ecosystems in Spain

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Abstract

Root rot caused by the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is leading to significant oak tree mortality in rangeland ecosystems in south western Spain. Susceptibility to P. cinnamomi infections of Q. ilex seedlings with a standard nutrition, deficient in K+, and deficient in Ca2+, was tested. Oaks deficient in K+ showed high values in Ca2+ content and were tolerant to the disease. Nutritional deficiency in Ca2+, however, did not lead to a higher K+ level in plants and induced poorer root development. In addition, K+ plant content does not appear to have any effect on pathogen tolerance. Based on these results, we conclude that satisfactory calcium nutrition may confer Holm oaks with a greater tolerance to root disease caused by P. cinnamomi. For this reason, limestone supplements are recommended as a measure against root rot caused by P. cinnamomi in rangelands in southern Spain, as a good option for control of oak root disease.

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Acknowledgments

With acknowledgement of the Spanish Ministry of Science (project AGL2009-00530) and the Andalusian Government (project AGR-6501) for providing financial support. Many thanks to Sarah Knight for the English revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy Department, University of Córdoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Ctra. Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014, Córdoba, Spain

    Maria S. Serrano, Paolo De Vita & M. Esperanza Sánchez

  2. Forestry Department, University of Córdoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Ctra. Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014, Córdoba, Spain

    Pilar Fernández-Rebollo

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  1. Maria S. Serrano
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  2. Pilar Fernández-Rebollo
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  3. Paolo De Vita
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  4. M. Esperanza Sánchez
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Correspondence to M. Esperanza Sánchez.

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Serrano, M.S., Fernández-Rebollo, P., De Vita, P. et al. Calcium mineral nutrition increases the tolerance of Quercus ilex to Phytophthora root disease affecting oak rangeland ecosystems in Spain. Agroforest Syst 87, 173–179 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9533-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9533-5

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