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Foliar Phytophthora in New Zealand plantation forests: historical presence of Phytophthora kernoviae and association with a previously undiagnosed disorder of Pinus radiata

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Abstract

Two foliar Phytophthora species are impacting New Zealand’s pine forests. Both Phytophthora pluvialis and Phytophthora kernoviae cause similar symptoms on pine needles, however P. pluvialis is a recent arrival to New Zealand and is the primary cause of red needle cast disease in Pinus radiata. The objective of this study was to determine if Phytophthora species could be detected in archived foliage collections from plantation forests in New Zealand, to ascertain how long they have been associated with foliar disorders. Foliage samples were selected from dried collections of P. radiata and Pseudotsuga menziesii made between 1963 and 2004. From these, DNA extractions and polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed for both host and pathogen detection. Phytophthora species were detected in eight (of 44) pine mycological herbarium samples; of these, three contained P. kernoviae. The positive P. kernoviae samples were collected in 1999 from Northland, and in 2000 and 2002 from Gisborne. Phytophthora species were detected in an additional six archived foliage samples, collected for nutrient analysis: P. kernoviae in a 1986 sample from Riverhead, Auckland, a putative Phytophthora cactorum in a 1972 sample from Glenbervie, Northland, and other Phytophthora spp. in samples collected in 1972, 1986, 1994 and 1996. Phytophthora pluvialis was not detected in any of the samples tested. The results of this study indicate that some Phytophthora species have been present in pine foliage since at least the 1970s. The presence of P. kernoviae in pine foliage since 1986 suggests that P. kernoviae may be associated with physiological needle blight, a disorder of P. radiata with a previously unknown cause.

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Acknowledgements

The New Zealand Forest Owners Association and Scion (Strategic Science Investment Funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; contract C04X1703) are gratefully acknowledged for funding this project. Everett Hansen and Wendy Sutton (Oregon State University, USA) are acknowledged for supplying Phytophthora pluvialis DNA samples. Lindsay Bulman (Scion), Bill Dyck and Dave Lowry (New Zealand Forest Owners Association) are acknowledged for helpful discussions. Kaye Eason is thanked for assistance with sample retrieval from the foliage archive. Sheridan Henness, PhD, provided writing assistance in the form of preparing the manuscript for publication under the direction of the author. Stuart Fraser and Ian Hood are thanked for critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Scion, New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, 3046, New Zealand

    Rebecca L. McDougal & Rebecca J. Ganley

  2. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 416 No.1 Road, Te Puke, New Zealand

    Rebecca J. Ganley

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  1. Rebecca L. McDougal
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  2. Rebecca J. Ganley
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Correspondence to Rebecca L. McDougal.

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McDougal, R.L., Ganley, R.J. Foliar Phytophthora in New Zealand plantation forests: historical presence of Phytophthora kernoviae and association with a previously undiagnosed disorder of Pinus radiata. Australasian Plant Pathol. 50, 747–759 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-021-00825-w

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