<i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia

<i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i>, the main ash species in Croatia in terms of economic and ecological importance, is affected by a severe dieback initially attributed to the fungal pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>. Recently, another pathogen, <i>Diplodia fraxini</...

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Main Authors: Jelena Kranjec Orlović, Carlo Bregant, Benedetto T. Linaldeddu, Lucio Montecchio, Ida Volenec, Katarina Uidl, Danko Diminić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1238
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author Jelena Kranjec Orlović
Carlo Bregant
Benedetto T. Linaldeddu
Lucio Montecchio
Ida Volenec
Katarina Uidl
Danko Diminić
author_facet Jelena Kranjec Orlović
Carlo Bregant
Benedetto T. Linaldeddu
Lucio Montecchio
Ida Volenec
Katarina Uidl
Danko Diminić
author_sort Jelena Kranjec Orlović
collection DOAJ
description <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i>, the main ash species in Croatia in terms of economic and ecological importance, is affected by a severe dieback initially attributed to the fungal pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>. Recently, another pathogen, <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>, has been shown to play a key role in ash dieback in several European countries. Therefore, because the dieback symptoms of ash trees observed in Croatia are typical of <i>Botryosphaeriaceae</i> attacks, the aim of this study was to define the etiology of <i>F. angustifolia</i> dieback. To this end, symptomatic shoots and branches and cross-sections of the main stem were sampled from 20 symptomatic trees at eight locations and analyzed for the presence of <i>D. fraxini</i> and other possible fungal pathogens. <i>Diplodia fraxini</i> was the fungus most frequently associated with branch cankers and dieback; it was isolated from 17 trees in all sites monitored, and its pathogenicity towards <i>F. angustifolia</i> was confirmed. The fungus was also associated with wood necrosis at the base of the trunk in two trees. Other fungi, namely <i>H. fraxineus</i>, <i>Diaporthe eres</i>, <i>Diplodia seriata</i>, <i>Botryosphaeria dothidea</i>, <i>Armillaria gallica</i>, and <i>Lentinus tigrinus</i>, were isolated sporadically.
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spelling doaj-art-9f8fb5f024d24b1c8f61ce7635c111182025-08-20T03:27:35ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01136123810.3390/microorganisms13061238<i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in CroatiaJelena Kranjec Orlović0Carlo Bregant1Benedetto T. Linaldeddu2Lucio Montecchio3Ida Volenec4Katarina Uidl5Danko Diminić6Institute of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDivision for Forest Protection and Game Management, Croatian Forest Research Institute, Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450 Jastrebarsko, CroatiaInstitute of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaInstitute of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia<i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i>, the main ash species in Croatia in terms of economic and ecological importance, is affected by a severe dieback initially attributed to the fungal pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>. Recently, another pathogen, <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>, has been shown to play a key role in ash dieback in several European countries. Therefore, because the dieback symptoms of ash trees observed in Croatia are typical of <i>Botryosphaeriaceae</i> attacks, the aim of this study was to define the etiology of <i>F. angustifolia</i> dieback. To this end, symptomatic shoots and branches and cross-sections of the main stem were sampled from 20 symptomatic trees at eight locations and analyzed for the presence of <i>D. fraxini</i> and other possible fungal pathogens. <i>Diplodia fraxini</i> was the fungus most frequently associated with branch cankers and dieback; it was isolated from 17 trees in all sites monitored, and its pathogenicity towards <i>F. angustifolia</i> was confirmed. The fungus was also associated with wood necrosis at the base of the trunk in two trees. Other fungi, namely <i>H. fraxineus</i>, <i>Diaporthe eres</i>, <i>Diplodia seriata</i>, <i>Botryosphaeria dothidea</i>, <i>Armillaria gallica</i>, and <i>Lentinus tigrinus</i>, were isolated sporadically.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1238narrow-leaved ash<i>Botryosphaeriaceae</i><i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i><i>Diaporthe eres</i><i>Armillaria gallica</i><i>Lentinus tigrinus</i>
spellingShingle Jelena Kranjec Orlović
Carlo Bregant
Benedetto T. Linaldeddu
Lucio Montecchio
Ida Volenec
Katarina Uidl
Danko Diminić
<i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
Microorganisms
narrow-leaved ash
<i>Botryosphaeriaceae</i>
<i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>
<i>Diaporthe eres</i>
<i>Armillaria gallica</i>
<i>Lentinus tigrinus</i>
title <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
title_full <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
title_fullStr <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
title_full_unstemmed <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
title_short <i>Diplodia fraxini</i>: The Main Pathogen Involved in the Ash Dieback of <i>Fraxinus angustifolia</i> in Croatia
title_sort i diplodia fraxini i the main pathogen involved in the ash dieback of i fraxinus angustifolia i in croatia
topic narrow-leaved ash
<i>Botryosphaeriaceae</i>
<i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>
<i>Diaporthe eres</i>
<i>Armillaria gallica</i>
<i>Lentinus tigrinus</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1238
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