First Report of Fusarium circinatum Associated with Declining Pinus wallichiana Forests in Kumrat Valley, Dir Kohistan Division
First Report of Fusarium circinatum Associated with Declining Pinus wallichiana Forests in Kumrat Valley, Dir Kohistan Division
Mahnoor Baloch* and Sanam Zarif Satti
ABSTRACT
The study reports the occurrence of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of Pine Pitch Canker, in Pinus wallichiana forests in Kumrat Valley, Pakistan. The disease was first observed in early 2023, leading to widespread damage in affected forest areas. The pathogen caused cankers, crown dieback and root decay in Pinus wallichiana. Field surveys were conducted and samples from symptomatic trees were collected for laboratory analyses. The presence of Fusarium circinatum was confirmed through morphological identification. Pathogenicity tests conducted on two years old seedlings of Pinus wallichiana and Pinus roxburghii showed that Pinus wallichiana is more susceptible to the fungus by exhibiting larger lesions compared to Pinus roxburghii. The study underscores the growing threat of the pathogen to Pinus species in the region, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of these forest ecosystems.
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