| dc.description.abstract | A foliage pathogen, Dothistroma septosporum, has been isolated from Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, a species which has adapted well to Costa Rica environmental conditions and is an important element of the national reforestation effort.
A description of the disease and the pathogen are given, including the role of environmental conditions in the epidemiology of the disease.
Periodic evaluations of the severity of the disease over a ten-month period are made, estimating the percentage of foliage with symptoms in four 25-tree plots in an affected plantation near Turrialba.
The results of identifications of the pathogen by the Commonwealth Mycological Institute in foliage of P. canariensis, P. caribaea var. caribaea, P. caribaea var. hondurensis, P. elliottii, P. muricata, P.. oocarpa, P. patula, P. pinaster, P. radiata, and P. taeda from other parts of Costa Rica are given.
The growth of affected trees in the evaluated plantation and the role of frequent fog and cool weather are discussed. It is observed that severely affected plantations of P. caribaea are above the normal altitudinal range of the species, possibly predisposing them to the disease. The susceptibility of different pine species is mentioned, suggesting that P. oocarpa may provide an alternative to the more susceptible P. caribaea in areas of high risk of Dothistroma.
It is concluded that the disease must be considered in selecting sites and species for the planting of pines in Costa Rica. Research on more exact limits for the safe planting of P. caribaea, and on efficient methods of chemical control of the disease is recommended. | es_ES |
