Endothia Species as Pathogens of Chestnut and Oak
Most of the approximately 14 woody plant-inhabiting Endothia species have not been documented as bona fide pathogens. Many have been simply reported as weak parasites or as apparent saprobes occurring on moribund or dead tissues without demonstration of proof of pathogenicity. In at least two cases, stresses of the hosts appear to be major predisposing factors to susceptibility. Four species of the genus that appear to be major pathogens are E. parasitica (primarily on Castanea and Quercus spp. ), E. gyrosa (primarily on Q. palustris and Liquidambar formosana), E. eugeniae (on Eugenia aromatica) and E. havanensis(on Eucalyptus sp. ). In Virginia, E. parasitica continues to kill Castanea dentata and to canker C. mollissima and Q. virginiana; the disease on Q. virginiana is widespread in Tidewater, Virginia, resulting in the death of a few trees and causing visible debility to heavily cankered individuals. Pin oak blight, caused by E. gyrosa, continues to be a major problem in the successful landscape culture of its host in Virginia; stress factors (predisposition)appear to play a significant role in host susceptibility.
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Author(s): R. Jay Stipes, David N. Appel, Martha K. Roane
Publication: American Chestnut Proceedings - 1978