issg Database: Management and Information Links for Cryphonectria parasitica

Cryphonectria parasitica (fungus)

Ecology Distribution Management
Info Impact
Info References
and Links Contacts

         Management Information

Integrated Management: The American Chestnut Cooperators' Foundation (undated) states that, “Integrated management for C. dentata revival combines hypovirulence (by inoculation) with C. parasitica resistance (grafted) on sites identified as ideal C. dentata habitat, to produce C. parasitica control. In Virginia's Lesesne State Forest, 3 resistant C. dentata were grafted in 1980. In 1982 and 1983 the first cankers were inoculated with hypovirulence. These trees are thriving; they have produced nuts for more than 10 years, and they make excellent annual growth”. .
For details on biological control options, please see management information.

         Location Specific Management Information
European Union (EU)
Quarantine regulations for C. parasitica in the European Union give emphasis to the diversity of vegetative compatibility types of the pathogen within Europe. Any increase in vegetative compatibility (vc) types may potentially hinder the successful spread of hypovirulence.
France
Chestnut blight has been controlled in orchards in France since 1974, by releasing hypovirulent strains infected with CHV1 hypovirus. This biological control has led to a decrease in blight severity (Robin et al, 2000).
Italy
A forest health monitoring programme was initiated in north-eastern Italy in 1998. This included surveys for C. parasitica in particular (Frigimelica et al. 2001).
Portugal
Quarantine measures were insufficient to control this disease in Portugal, and in 1998 an eradication programme was initiated (Gouveia et al, 2001).
Slovakia
Biological control of chestnut blight using hypovirulent strains has been successful, and hypovirulence spread.
Turkey
The populations of chestnut blight in Turkey have great potential for successful biological control, due to the presence of virus-infected isolates and characteristics of the population (Gurer et al. 2001).
United States (USA)
Attempts to eradicate or control chestnut blight have ranged from the use of 'hypovirulent' strains of chestnut blight to the use of a bacterium of Castanea spp. This bacterium is antagonistic to chestnut blight and can survive for long periods of time on the bark of C. dentata (American chestnut). Some Bacillus megaterium isolates from C. dentata bark may have potential for biological control.

         Management Resources/Links

1. American Chestnut Cooperators' Foundation. Undated. Blight Fungus Virginia Tech: Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology & Weed Science.
        Summary: Website the describes the history of the fungus in the United States and also goes in its biology and covers the impacts and current research related to this species.
Available from: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/griffin/blight.html [Accessed 15 September 2004]
2. Bragança, H., S. Simões, N. Onofre, R. Tenreiro and D. Rigling., 2007. Cryphonectria parasitica in Portugal: diversity of vegetative compatibility types, mating types, and occurrence of hypovirulence pages Forest Pathology Volume 37, Issue 6, December 2007 391–402
3. Canadian Chestnut Council. Undated. Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) The Cause of the Problem.
        Summary: Website the describes the history of the fungus in the United States and also goes in its biology and covers the impacts and current research related to this species.
Available from: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~chestnut/chestnut_blight.htm [Accessed 15 September 2004]
4. Dalavalle, E., and A. Zambonelli. 1999. Epidemiological role of strains of Cryphonectria parasitica isolated from hosts other than chestunut. European Journal of Forest Pathology 29: 97-102.
        Summary: A scientific study that identifies species other than chestnuts which are affected by the fungus.
5. Davelos, A. L, and A. M. Jarosz. 2004. Demography of American chestnut populations: effects of a pathogen and a hyperparasite. Journal of Ecology 92:675-685.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
6. Diamandis, S & Perlerou, C., 2005. The role of Spulerina simploniella in the spread of chestnut blight Forest Pathology Volume 35 Issue 4 Page 315
7. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), 2003. Data Sheet on Cryphonectria parasitica. Prepared by CABI and EPPO for the EU under Contract 90/399003.
        Summary: Available from: http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/fungi/Cryphonectria_parasitica/ENDOPA_ds.pdf [Accessed 5 March 2008]
8. Frigimelica, G., Carpanelli, A., and Stergulc, F. 2001. Monitoring of widespread forest diseases in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (North-eastern Italy). Journal of Forest Science (Prague). 47 (Special Issue 2): 81-84.
        Summary: Monitoring of this species in north-eastern Italy.
9. Groome, P.C., Tattar, T.A., and Mount, M.S. 2001. Bacteria found on American chestnut bark and their potential in biocontrol of chestnut blight. Arboricultural Journal. 25 (3): 221-234.
        Summary: Information on the chestnut blight in the USA and possible biological control options.
10. Guerin, L., G. Froidefond, and X.-M. Xu. 2001. Seasonal patterns of dispersal of ascospores of Cryphonectria parasitica (chestnut blight). Plant Pathology 50: 717-724.
        Summary: Research paper covering the reproductive aspects of species.
11. Gurer, M., Ottaviani, M-P., and Cortesi, P. 2001. Genetic diversity of subpopulations of Cryphonectria parasitica in two chestnut-growing regions in Turkey. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 76 (3): 383-386.
        Summary: Information on chestnut blight in Turkey.
12. Juhasova, G., and Bernadovicova, S. 2001. Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr and Phytophthora spp. in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Slovakia. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 76 (3): 373-377.
        Summary: Information on chestnut blight in Slovakia.
13. Liberato J R & Robin C 2006. Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 22/09/2006 2:57:21 PM.
        Summary: PaDIL (Pests and Diseases Image Library) is a Commonwealth Government initiative, developed and built by Museum Victoria's Online Publishing Team, with support provided by DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and PHA (Plant Health Australia), a non-profit public company. Project partners also include Museum Victoria, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and the Queensland University of Technology. The aim of the project is: 1) Production of high quality images showing primarily exotic targeted organisms of plant health concern to Australia. 2) Assist with plant health diagnostics in all areas, from initial to high level. 3) Capacity building for diagnostics in plant health, including linkage developments between training and research organisations. 4) Create and use educational tools for training undergraduates/postgraduates. 5) Engender public awareness about plant health concerns in Australia. PaDIL is available from : http://www.padil.gov.au/aboutOverview.aspx, this page is available from: http://www.padil.gov.au/viewPestDiagnosticImages.aspx?id=545 [Accessed 6 October 2006]
14. Liu, Y. C., D. L. Basso, B. I. Hillman, S. Kaneko, and M. G. Milgroom. 2003. Evidence for interspecies transmission of viruses in natural populations of filamentous fungi in the genus Cryphonectria. Molecular Ecology 12: 1619-1628.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
15. Liu, Y. C., M. L Double, W. L. MacDonald, and M. G. Milgroom. 2002. Persistence of Cryphonectria hypoviruses after their release for biological control of chestnut blight in West Virginia forests. Forest Pathology 32: 345-356
        Summary: Scientific study using biological control methods on species.
16. Marra, R. E., and M. G. Milgroom. 1999. PCR amplification of the mating-type idiomorphs in Cryphonectria parasitica. Molecular Ecology 8: 1947-1950.
        Summary: Scientific study using biological control methods on species.
17. Marra, R. E., and M. G. Milgroom. 2001. The mating system of the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica: selfing and self-incompatibility. Heredity 86(2): 134.
        Summary: Research paper covering the reproductive aspects of species.
18. Radocz, L. 1998. Chestnut blight Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr and its biological control in Hungary. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica. 33 (1-2): 131-145.
        Summary: Biological control of chestnut blight in Hungary.
19. Radocz, L. 2001. Study of subpopulations of the chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) fungus in the Carpathian basin. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 76 (3): 368-372.
        Summary: Information on chestnut blight in Hungary, Romania and the Ukraine.
20. Robin, C., and Heiniger, U. 2001. Chestnut blight in Europe: Diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica hypovirulence and biocontrol. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 76 (3): 361-367.
        Summary: Information on chestnut blight in Europe.
21. Robin, C., Anziani, C., and Cortesi, P. 2000. Relationship between biological control, incidence of hypovirulence, and diversity of vegetative compatibility types of Cryphonectria parasitica in France. Phytopathology. 90 (7): 730-737.
        Summary: Biological control of chestnut blight in France since 1974.
22. Seemann, D. 2001. Plant health and quarantine regulations of the European Union for Cryphonectria parasitica. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 76 (3): 402-404.
        Summary: EU quarantine regulations for this species.
23. Vandermast, D. B., D. H. Van Lear, and B. D. Clinton. 2002. American chestnut as an allelopath in the southern Appalachians. Forest Ecology and Management 165: 173-181
        Summary: Research paper that investigates some of the long term effects on forest composition in the United States that the fungus has caused.
24. Worrall, J. 2004. Chestnut Blight. Forestpathology.org: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Forest Health Management.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
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