PATHOGENIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH A BARK BEETLE ON ALPINE FIR

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Abstract
Unexplained mortality associated with attacks of the western balsam bark beetle (Dryocoetes confusus Sw.) in alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) was found to be caused by a beetle–fungus complex. Not all trees attacked were killed, but surviving trees were left with lesions which provided potential entrance courts for decay fungi. Four closely related fungi, isolated from necrotic lesions centered at beetle bore holes, were shown by inoculation to be pathogenic. Ceratocystis dryocoetidis Kendrick and Molnar was the most virulent of these fungi on the basis of the size of lesions produced. C. dryocoetidis caused cambial and inner bark necrosis, while the other three fungi produced necrosis and blue staining of the sapwood.