Deciphering the vectors: Unveiling the local dispersal of Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii in the American beech (Fagus grandifolia) forest ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: Beech leaf disease (BLD), caused by the Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii (Lcm) nematode, is an emerging threat to beech trees. This disease is characterized by distinct leaf symptoms, including leaf interveinal banding and thickened leaf texture, which leads to eventual tree mortality. Understanding Lcm dispersal mechanism(s) is crucial for managing BLD, yet these remain largely unknown, posing a major barrier to its effective management. This study represents a pioneering investigation into the abiotic and biotic vectors that potentially contribute to the local dispersal of Lcm in natural American beech (Fagus grandifolia) forest systems in the Northeastern United States. An experiment was set up in Stone Valley Forest, Pennsylvania (PA), using four funnel stands placed at variable dist

SUBMITTER: Goraya M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11548727 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature