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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320601
Title: Observation and identification of wood-decay fungi from the heartwood of peach tree limbs in central Georgia, USA

Author
item Chen, Chunxian
item Bock, Clive
item Hotchkiss, Michael - Mike
item GARBELOTTO, MATTEO - University Of California
item Wood, Bruce

Submitted to: American Phytopathology Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2015
Publication Date: 11/1/2015
Citation: Chen, C., Bock, C.H., Hotchkiss, M.W., Garbelotto, M., Wood, B.W. 2015. Observation and identification of wood-decay fungi from the heartwood of peach tree limbs in central Georgia, USA [abstract]. American Phytopathology Society. 105:S4.27.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only. JLR

Technical Abstract: Discoloration in the heartwood of broken peach scaffold limbs was observed consistently on otherwise apparently healthy limbs in peach orchards in central Georgia, USA. A dissection of broken scaffolds from 6 trees showed symptoms of colonization along the entire limbs, with 41% of primary branches having symptoms of decay, but no secondary branches with symptoms. Only limb sections of peach scion cultivars, but not rootstock cultivars were colonized. A Chi-square analysis in 2 separate experiments indicated no difference in the incidence of colonization among scion cultivars (1st expt P='2=0.81(95% CIs=0.808-0.814), 2nd expt P='2=0.96 (95% CIs=0.963–0.966). Metagenomic analysis of next generation sequencing reads revealed the contigs were aligned to genomic DNAs and ESTs of Trametes versicolor and/or Schizophyllum commune, suggesting these two white-rot fungi were present in the sample tested. Subsequent multiplexing PCR diagnostics of 10 samples from scion wood confirmed the dominance of Trametes spp. (all 10 samples), although Stereum spp. (5 samples), Schizophyllum spp. (3 samples) and Hericium spp, (1 sample) were sometimes found coexisting with Trametes spp. Pruning of scion wood may provide an infection court for colonization by wood decay fungi, and also increase availability of air in the wood, allowing growth of wood decay fungi which are normally inhibited in anoxic wood environments. Future research needs on this peach-fungus association are discussed.