Screening of Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) for resistance to Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of Pitch Canker disease

Pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum, is an introduced non-native disease on pines in natural and planted stands of Europe. Research has not been conducted to test whether a European native pine species shows genetic variation in susceptibility to this disease. Half-sib families from 39 Pinus pinaster clones and seedlings from one unimproved seed source (control) were evaluated for resistance. Pitch canker resistance was not genetically related to tree growth, but seed weight and germination rates were predictive of time-to-death. Heritabilities and associated genetic gains calculated from the greenhouse experiment were consistent, h(i)(2) = 0.18 and 0.45 for time-to-death and for tree mortality, respectively. These heritabilities are high enough to allow pitch canker to be reduced through appropriate genetic strategies. Results indicated that selection for growth of P. pinaster trees in breeding programs would not necessarily imply an increase of susceptibility to F. circinatum. This research may allow the use of native pine individuals as breeding stock or as sources to produce seeds with moderate levels of tolerance to F. circinatum.