Document Type : Plant Pathology
Authors
- Seyedeh Masoomeh Zamani 1
- Mansoureh Mirabolfathy 2
- Narges Sepasi 3
- Yazdanfar Ahangaran 4
- Reihaneh Gholami Ghavamabad 5
- Mohammad Ebrahim Farashiani 1
1 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
2 Faculty member
3 Researcher, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
4 Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization
5 Researcher, Research Institute of forests and rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)
Abstract
Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis is one of the indigenous species of Iran, the natural habitats of which are regarded as significant forest reserves within Iran. Owing to its ecological merits, this species has been employed in safeguarding forests against desertification and soil preservation in the forestry sector of the country. In the northern of Iran, cypress trees have commonly been observed in both natural and artificially planted forests. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fungal factors affecting the common cypress tree die back in Hassanabad (Mazandaran province) during the summer of 2023. During the examination of the affected trees, indications of drying in the terminal branches of the trees, scorching and necrosis of the upper branches, as well as canker formation on the trunks of common cypress trees observed. The infected tissues of common cypress trees were cultured on potato dextrose agar medium. Fungal isolates were obtained. Based on the macroscopic and microscopic characters of the isolates they were identified as Diplodia cupressi in the laboratory. To confirm the morphological identification the rDNA sequence data (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) were obtained using primers ITS1 and ITS4, and nBLAST. The search revealed match between this sequence and the corresponding ITS region sequence derived from the holotype of D. cupressi. The pathogenicity of the fungus was examined on potted cypress seedlings and its pathogenicity was confirmed. This study represents the major role of D. cupressi as the causal agent of Common cypress canker in North of Iran.
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