The Forest of Castelfidardo is a protected florist area located in the province of Ancona, at an altitude between 15 and 120 meters s.l.m. and about 4 km from the Adriatic Sea. The forest area currently covers an area of about 36 hectares and is a site of great importance for biodiversity, representing one of the few submediterranean relict oak forests in the region of Marche. The forest ecosystem is home to many species of shrub and tree plants and is dominated by typical oak forest with roverella ( Quercus pubescens), cerro (Q. cerris) and, in the lower stations of farnia (Q. robur). Among the other species present are the carpinus, the holly, the field maple, the hazel, orniella, laurel and viburnum. In recent years, severe symptoms of decay, sudden death and root rot have been observed on numerous formations inside the forest. The first studies have revealed widespread oak decay, with an epidemic of secondary attacks from Biscogniauxia mediterranea. Subsequent surveys have revealed that, in addition to oaks, symptoms of decline and death affected all plant species and were attributable to both root and crown plant attacks. In the light of these serious phenomena it seemed appropriate to carry out a detailed investigation in order to isolate and characterize the main pathogenic species involved in the etiology of the diseases observed. During the phytosanitary monitoring, a total of 56 samples of leaves, cancers, stems, collars and rhizosphere from 8 plant species were collected and phytosanitary parameters, such as disease incidence and mortality, were estimated, along three 50 metres transepts. Laboratory analyses allowed to isolate and characterize from the samples collected 58 colonies belonging to 10 species of ascomycetes and oomycetes. Based on morphological characteristics and sequence data from the ITS region, the oomycetes were identified as: Phytophthora cinnamomi (12 isolates), P. syringae (9), P. plurivora (5), P. hedraiandra (4) and P. ilicis (2) ; the fungal isolates, instead, belonged to the species Diplodia corticola (11 isolates), Botryosphaeria dothidea (6), Biscogniauxia rosacearum (4), Diplodia fraxini (3) and Diplodia seriata(2). Among all the species isolated, the genus Phytophthora and the family Botryosphaeriaceae represent the dominant components, isolated respectively from 55% and 40% of the samples examined. Results show that, on a relatively small area, are presente as many as 10 very important emerging pathogenic species, some of which polyphagous and invasive and already reported in many areas of Italy and the world as key species in the decline phenomena of various forest formations. This high diversity of invasive pathogens with different mechanisms of action could explain the serious phenomena of extinction of the formations present in the Forest of Castelfidardo, emphasizing the need for timely containment and mitigation measures in order to maintain the site.
La Selva di Castelfidardo è un’area floristica protetta situata in provincia di Ancona, ad una quota compresa fra 15 e 120 metri s.l.m. e distante circa 4 km dal Mare Adriatico. L’area forestale attualmente occupa una superficie di circa 36 ettari ed è un sito di grande rilevanza per la biodiversità, rappresentando una delle poche foreste submediterranee relitte di quercia della regione Marche. L’ecosistema forestale ospita molte specie di piante arbustive e arboree ed è dominato dal bosco tipico di quercia a roverella (Quercus pubescens), cerro (Q. cerris) e, nelle stazioni più basse di farnia (Q. robur). Tra le altre specie presenti vi sono i carpini, l’agrifoglio, l’acero campestre, il nocciolo, l’orniello, l’alloro e il viburno. Nel corso degli ultimi anni, all’interno della Selva sono stati osservati gravi sintomi di deperimento, morte improvvisa e marciume radicale su numerose formazioni. I primi studi hanno permesso di accertare la presenza diffusa di fenomeni di deperimento delle querce, con diffusione epidemica di attacchi secondari da Biscogniauxia mediterranea. Sopraluoghi successivi hanno messo alla luce che, oltre alle querce, sintomi di declino e moria interessavano tutte le specie vegetali ed erano afferibili ad attacchi fitosanitari sia radicali che della chioma. Alla luce di questi gravi fenomeni è parso opportuno svolgere un’indagine dettagliata al fine di isolare e caratterizzare le principali specie patogene coinvolte nell'eziologia delle malattie osservate. Durante il monitoraggio fitosanitario sono stati raccolti complessivamente 56 campioni di foglie, cancri, fusto, colletto e rizosfera da 8 specie vegetali e sono stati stimati i parametri fitosanitari quali l’incidenza della malattia e l’indice di mortalità, lungo tre transetti di 50 metri. Le analisi di laboratorio hanno permesso di isolare e caratterizzare dai campioni raccolti 58 colonie appartenenti a 10 specie di funghi ascomiceti e oomiceti. Sulla base delle caratteristiche morfologiche e dei dati di sequenza della regione ITS, gli oomiceti sono stati identificati come Phytophthora cinnamomi (12 isolati), P. syringae (9), P. plurivora (5), P. hedraiandra (4) e P. ilicis (2); gli isolati fungini, invece, appartenevano alle specie Diplodia corticola (11 isolati), Botryosphaeria dothidea (6), Biscogniauxia rosacearum (4), Diplodia fraxini (3) Diplodia seriata (2). Tra tutte le specie isolate il genere Phytophthora e la famiglia Botryosphaeriaceae rappresentano le componenti dominanti, isolate rispettivamente dal 55% e dal 40% dei campioni esaminati. Dai risultati emerge che su una relativamente piccola superficie sono presenti ben 10 specie patogene emergenti molto importanti, alcune delle quali polifaghe ed invasive e già segnalate in numerose aree d’Italia e del mondo come specie chiave nei fenomeni di declino di varie formazioni forestali. Quest’elevata diversità di patogeni invasivi aventi anche diverso meccanismo di azione potrebbe spiegare i gravi fenomeni di moria delle formazioni presenti all’interno della Selva di Castelfidardo, sottolineando come siano necessarie tempestive misure di contenimento e mitigazione al fine di conservare il sito.
Microorganismi fitopatogeni coinvolti nel declino della Selva di Castelfidardo (Ancona)
GIOMBINI, SERENA
2024/2025
Abstract
The Forest of Castelfidardo is a protected florist area located in the province of Ancona, at an altitude between 15 and 120 meters s.l.m. and about 4 km from the Adriatic Sea. The forest area currently covers an area of about 36 hectares and is a site of great importance for biodiversity, representing one of the few submediterranean relict oak forests in the region of Marche. The forest ecosystem is home to many species of shrub and tree plants and is dominated by typical oak forest with roverella ( Quercus pubescens), cerro (Q. cerris) and, in the lower stations of farnia (Q. robur). Among the other species present are the carpinus, the holly, the field maple, the hazel, orniella, laurel and viburnum. In recent years, severe symptoms of decay, sudden death and root rot have been observed on numerous formations inside the forest. The first studies have revealed widespread oak decay, with an epidemic of secondary attacks from Biscogniauxia mediterranea. Subsequent surveys have revealed that, in addition to oaks, symptoms of decline and death affected all plant species and were attributable to both root and crown plant attacks. In the light of these serious phenomena it seemed appropriate to carry out a detailed investigation in order to isolate and characterize the main pathogenic species involved in the etiology of the diseases observed. During the phytosanitary monitoring, a total of 56 samples of leaves, cancers, stems, collars and rhizosphere from 8 plant species were collected and phytosanitary parameters, such as disease incidence and mortality, were estimated, along three 50 metres transepts. Laboratory analyses allowed to isolate and characterize from the samples collected 58 colonies belonging to 10 species of ascomycetes and oomycetes. Based on morphological characteristics and sequence data from the ITS region, the oomycetes were identified as: Phytophthora cinnamomi (12 isolates), P. syringae (9), P. plurivora (5), P. hedraiandra (4) and P. ilicis (2) ; the fungal isolates, instead, belonged to the species Diplodia corticola (11 isolates), Botryosphaeria dothidea (6), Biscogniauxia rosacearum (4), Diplodia fraxini (3) and Diplodia seriata(2). Among all the species isolated, the genus Phytophthora and the family Botryosphaeriaceae represent the dominant components, isolated respectively from 55% and 40% of the samples examined. Results show that, on a relatively small area, are presente as many as 10 very important emerging pathogenic species, some of which polyphagous and invasive and already reported in many areas of Italy and the world as key species in the decline phenomena of various forest formations. This high diversity of invasive pathogens with different mechanisms of action could explain the serious phenomena of extinction of the formations present in the Forest of Castelfidardo, emphasizing the need for timely containment and mitigation measures in order to maintain the site.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/82145