Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with pine-infesting bark beetles in Patagonia, Argentina

DE ERRASTI, ANDRÉS; PILDAIN, M.B.; RAJCHENBERG, M.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Congreso; IUFRO 7.03.03-7.03.12 joint meeting; 2015

IUFRO

Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with pine-infesting bark beetles in Patagonia, Argentina Pine plantations in Argentinian Patagonia cover ca. 95,000 ha in Chubut, Neuquén, and Río Negro and Provinces. Exotic bark beetles (Orthotomicus, Hylastes, Hylurgus) commonly occur in freshly cut logs, fresh stumps and slash. These beetles are vectors of ?ophiostomatoid? fungi which include primary tree pathogens as well as important agents of blue-stain. No research has been done on fungi associated with bark beetles in this region. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify blue-stain species and their insect associates. Fungal isolates from stained logs, processed wood and insect galleries were identified through morphological and DNA sequence comparisons of ITS and β-tubulin gene regions. Grosmannia hunti, G. radiaticola, Graphilbum sp.1, Ophiostoma ips, and O. piliferum were identified. A frequently isolated taxon is described as a new species, Ophiostoma peregrinum sp. nov. It occurred in all three provinces associated to Hylurgus ligniperda and Orthotomicus laricis, staining ponderosa and radiata pines, douglas fir and also the native Nothofagus dombeyi. Data from Argentina, previous works from Chile and a recent study in Uruguay brings the total number of registered species on exotic conifers to 12: 1 Graphilbum, 2 Grosmannia and 9 Ophiostoma s.l. Distribution, host and beetle interactions for these species are discussed.