sdu faculty of forestry journal special edition 2009 - Orman Fakültesi

SDU Faculty of Forestry Journal
Serial: A, Number: Special Issue, Year: 2009, ISSN: 1302-7085, Page: 41-47
CONE DAMAGES BY Diplodia pinea AND SEED BORING INSECTS ON
Pinus pinea L. (ITALIAN STONE PINE) IN CENTRAL ITALY
Matteo FEDUCCI 1 , Alessia PEPORI 1 , Daniele BENASSAI 2 , Martina CAMBI 1 ,
Paolo CAPRETTI 1*
1 DiBA – Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Sect. of Plant Pathology. Piazzale delle
Cascine, 28 – 50144 – FIRENZE - ITALY
2 DiBA – Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Sect. of Entomology Via Maragliano, 77 –
50144 – FIRENZE - ITALY (at the time of research)
ABSTRACT
* paolo.capretti@unifi.it
In Italy Pinus pinea L. (Italian Stone Pine) is cultivated for several purposes but mainly
for dune protection, landscape conservation, tourism, and seeds production. This economic
activity is annually negatively affected by the occurrence of fungi, insects, and abiotic
agents but also by a new alien pest (Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann) recently
introduced from North America. In order to clarify the main reasons of seed losses,
monitoring investigation have been organized in different pinewood located along the
Tyrrhenian cost in Tuscany. During the period 2006 – 2008 cones, having different ages
(from 1 to 3 years old) were analyzed. The main agents responsible of biotic damage were
identified and their incidence on losses was ranked.
The study showed that: - about 64% of 1-yr old and 36% of 2-yrs old cones were
affected by D. pinea; - more than 80% of old cones collected on the ground in pinewoods
were colonized by the fungus; - up to 57% of old infected cones produced available
inoculum, able to germinate in 6h at 25°C. The most consistent damages on the harvested
mature cones were caused by D. pinea, followed by small mammals and insects including
L. occidentalis, although differences among forest occurred. In infected cones by the fungus
seed losses were up to 64%.
Keywords: Pinus, edible seeds, insects, diseases, fungi
1. INTRODUCTION
Pinus pinea L., the Italian Stone Pine with its umbrella-shape crown is one of
the most characteristic and attractive Mediterranean trees. It is usually grown in
pure pinewood plantation along the coasts, or mixed with other Mediterranean
species in temperate forests. Often it is also cultivated as an ornamental tree, in
gardens and public parks areas of Southern Europe (Bernetti, 1995).
P. pinea is also well known for its edible seeds (pinoli) about two cm long that
quite often constitute the main income for pinewoods owners (Bernetti, 1995;
Ducci et al., 2001; Saporito, 2002). Seeds are produced by pines after a long
process of maturation. The cones ripen after three years expanding to oval-shaped,
300 gr. weigh. During that long period they are exposed to several biotic threats
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