John Pinnix
John Pinnix, Mycorrhizae of the Genus Castanea and Biological control of Root Pathogens: A Literature Review
Faculty Chair: Dr. Hill Craddock
The literature relative to the mycorrhizae of chestnut (genus Castanea) and the biocontrol of root pathogens was reviewed. Twenty genera comprising over ninety species of basidiomycetes and six genera comprising nine species of ascomycetes have been reported as forming ectomycorrhizae with the species of chestnut. At least thirty diseases have been reported to affect Castanea species. In addition to the chestnut blight, these diseases include root diseases, such as chestnut ink disease, damping-off, and root rot. Several lists of mycorrhizae - plant pathogen - plant host have appeared in the literature. Although some ectomycorrhizae have been reported to have provided biocontrol of root pathogens, overall they have been found to be unpredictable and, therefore, unreliable for field use. Based on the findings of this review of the literature, several recommendations for further research are discussed.
