Association of Endothia Parasitica with Mites Isolated from Cankers on American Chestnut Trees
ABSTRACT.--Cankers from American chestnut stump sprouts in Virginia plus two large, surviving American chestnut trees in Virginia and West Virginia were examined for the presence of mites (Acarina). All canker samples examined contained mites, with many in the families Oribatidae. Belbidae and Paras-itidae. Further identification is in progress. One hundred and sixty-two mites from the stump sprouts growing in eight areas of Virginia were plated on acidified potato dextrose agar in an attempt to isolate Endothia parasitica from them. The blight fungus was recovered from 56 (34.6 percent) of the 162 mites and from at least one mite in all eight areas. These results suggest that mites may disseminate E. parasitica (including, possibly, hypovirulent strains) when they move from bark tissues into the soil and other trees.
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Author(s): R. Wendt, J. Weidhaas, Gary J. Griffin, John Rush Elkins
Publication: American Chestnut Proceedings - 1982