Article
Forestry
Francisco M. Azcarate, Javier Seoane, Mariola Silvestre
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of factors influencing the susceptibility of pine forests to the pine processionary moth (PPM) in Central Spain. It finds that pine species and grazing pressure are important determinants of vulnerability to PPM. The occurrence of structurally simple pine forests with abundant open spaces is associated with higher incidences of PPM.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
S. Leblebici, F. Donbaloglu Bozca, E. F. Topkara, O. Yanar
Summary: This study compares the ecological and physiological parameters of pine trees (Pinus species) with and without infestation of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni). The results show significant differences in various parameters between infested and non-infested individuals, indicating defense responses in infested individuals.
RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Ferracini, Cristina Pogolotti, Monica Vercelli, Eleonora Vittoria Fontana, Valerio Saitta, Serena Gallizia, Ivan Rollet
Summary: Investigations were conducted on the egg parasitoid complex of the pine processionary moth in NW Italy to determine the species composition, seasonal emergence, and parasitism rate. Altitude and summer temperatures were found to influence the egg batches parameters and parasitism rate. The findings highlight the importance of further research on the regulating effect of parasitoids in reducing the population of the pine processionary moth.
BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Marina Sheller, Endre Gyorgy Toth, Elena Ciocirlan, Pavel Mikhaylov, Sergey Kulakov, Nadezhda Kulakova, Natalia Melnichenko, Aleksey Ibe, Tatyana Sukhikh, Alexandru Lucian Curtu
Summary: This study assessed the genetic variation of 17 Scots pine populations in different regions of Russia. The results showed high levels of genetic diversity in all populations. Five genetic groups were identified, corresponding to different geographical areas. The European population showed the highest genetic distinctiveness. The genetic differentiation among populations only accounted for 5% of the total variance. These findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic diversity patterns of Scots pine populations in Middle Siberia and support conservation efforts of these genetic resources.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Skipars Vilnis, Dainis Rungis
Summary: Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals significant changes in gene expression in response to wounding and inoculation with Heterobasidion annosum in genetically identical one-year-old Scots pine ramets. Upregulated genes are involved in oxidative stress protection, while downregulated genes are related to photosynthesis, water transport, and drought stress tolerance. Pathways involving auxin, ethylene, jasmonate, gibberellin, reactive oxygen species, and cell wall modification regulation are implicated in the response to H. annosum infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Eliza Konofalska, Pawel Kozakiewicz, Wlodzimierz Buraczyk, Henryk Szeligowski, Hubert Lachowicz
Summary: This study investigated the technical quality of wood from Scots pine trees of diverse genetic origin. Results showed that the origin of the logs significantly influenced wood density, compressive strength, static bending strength, and modulus of elasticity under static bending. Trees from different parent stands exhibited variations in these mechanical properties.
Article
Forestry
Chiara Ferracini, Valerio Saitta, Gabriele Rondoni, Ivan Rollet
Summary: This study conducted investigations in NW Italy over a five-year period and found that environmental variables and biological parameters affect the population dynamics of the pine processionary moth. The collected data will be valuable for developing predictive risk models and implementing timely and cost-effective countermeasures, given its environmental and sanitary importance.
Article
Forestry
Maria Rudawska, Tomasz Leski
Summary: This study investigated ECM fungal communities on bare-root nursery stock of Scots pine in 23 forest nurseries in Poland, revealing that ECM fungal diversity depended on nursery and seedling age. A total of 29 ECM fungal taxa were found on 1- and 2-year-old seedlings, with species richness varying depending on the age of the seedlings.
Article
Forestry
Florian Wilms, Nils Duppel, Tobias Cremer, Ferreol Berendt
Summary: The height of the bark transition area is significantly influenced by DBH, while cardinal direction has a minor effect on bark thickness. These variables can be used to predict timber volume accurately and estimate the carbon storage potential of forest biomass based on different tree compartments and compounds.
Article
Forestry
Cristina Valeriano, Antonio Gazol, Michele Colangelo, Jesus Julio Camarero
Summary: The study reveals that drought constrains tree growth in regions like the western Mediterranean Basin, leading to tree mortality. Living and dead trees display significant differences in growth trends and responses to drought, particularly after the climate shifted towards warmer and drier conditions in the 1980s.
Article
Forestry
Teresa Valor, Sharon M. Hood, Miriam Pique, Asier Larranaga, Pere Casals
Summary: The study found that bark thickness, tree size and growth rate, as well as resin ducts, play important roles in trees' resistance to bark beetles. The black pine subspecies P. nigra subsp. salzmannii is more fire-resistant compared to the Scots pine, resulting in fewer attacks. Overall, tree size and resin duct characteristics determine the tree's resistance to bark beetles.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andre Garcia, Jean-Charles Samalens, Arnaud Grillet, Paula Soares, Manuela Branco, Inge van Halder, Herve Jactel, Andrea Battisti
Summary: Early detection of insect infestation is crucial for effective control measures. Remote sensing may not work well for low-intensity signals or difficult-to-detect items. The use of drones and deep learning methods such as YOLO can improve the detection of insect nests, particularly for the pine processionary moth (PPM) in southern Europe.
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Julio Camarero, Jacques Tardif, Antonio Gazol, France Conciatori
Summary: This study analyzes tree-ring data from 14 sites in Teruel, eastern Spain, and finds that the pine processionary moth has not expanded its distribution as expected with climatic warming, nor has the frequency of outbreaks increased. Furthermore, severe defoliation events are positively related to the winter North Atlantic Oscillation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Andrzej Borkowski
Summary: The pine shoot beetles Tomicus piniperda L. and T. minor Hartwig exhibit resource partitioning in forests with different degrees of crown damage, with T. piniperda preferring the thicker part of the stem and T. minor favoring the thinner part. The results suggest spatial specialization in resource utilization by the two beetle species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mikhail Surso, Sergei Khviyuzov, Dmitry Chukhchin
Summary: The composition of pollen tubes of Scots pine was studied, showing that the protoplast apical zone and the parietal layer near the tube's tip are actively involved in ion transport regulation. The distribution of chemical compounds varies along the length of the tube, with significant differences in the nucleus region and the parietal layer indicating the role of H+ gradient as a driving force for vesicle transport and growth regulation. The content of different compounds also changes at different parts of the tube.
PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, Francesco Di Serio, Marie-Agnes Jacques, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Daniel Rigling, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission requested risk assessments for high-risk plants, including bare rooted and potted Nerium oleander from Turkey. A non-regulated pest Phenacoccus solenopsis was identified and risk mitigation measures were evaluated, with an expert judgement indicating a high likelihood of plants being free from the pest.
Article
Entomology
Gianni Gilioli, Giorgio Sperandio, Anna Simonetto, Michele Colturato, Andrea Battisti, Nicola Mori, Mariangela Ciampitti, Beniamino Cavagna, Alessandro Bianchi, Paola Gervasio
Summary: A mechanistic model simulating the phenology of Popillia japonica was developed and successfully predicted the timing of adult emergence. Data from the Lombardy Region monitoring program were used for parameter estimation and validation, indicating the model's potential for determining optimal timing for monitoring and control activities.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Nicola Mori, Giacomo Santoiemma, Itamar Glazer, Gianni Gilioli, Mariangela Ciampitti, Beniamino Cavagna, Andrea Battisti
Summary: The Japanese beetle, an invasive alien species recently introduced and established in Northern Italy, has a significant economic impact on agriculture and nursery industry. Their larvae can cause damage to roots and may be spread through soil. Restrictions on plant movement between infested and non-infested areas are commonly used for control, but can have a big economic impact on the nursery industry.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Paula Baptista, Elisavet Chatzivassiliou, Francesco Di Serio, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Emilio Stefani, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Daniel Rigling, Massimo Faccoli, Giovanni Iacopetti, Alzbeta Mikulova, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Fabio Stergulc, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission requested the EFSA to assess the risk posed by bonsai plants from China to the plant health in the EU. The evaluation revealed that there is a certain level of risk associated with some pests, and corresponding risk mitigation measures were proposed. For other pests, the requirements for preventing their introduction were met.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Paula Baptista, Elisavet Chatzivassiliou, Francesco Di Serio, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Emilio Stefani, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Daniel Rigling, Massimo Faccoli, Giovanni Iacopetti, Alzbeta Mikulova, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Fabio Stergulc, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct risk assessments for bare rooted plants imported from China for planting, specifically Acer palmatum grafted on rootstocks of Acer davidii. The assessment found that the pest Lopholeucaspis japonica may be present in 9336 or more bare rooted plants out of 10,000. The Panel considers that China has applied the relevant measures to address the pests Anoplophora chinensis and Anoplophora glabripennis.
Article
Entomology
Itamar Glazer, Giacomo Santoiemma, Andrea Battisti, Francesca De Luca, Elena Fanelli, Alberto Troccoli, Eustachio Tarasco, Stefano Sacchi, Alessandro Bianchi, Gianni Gilioli, Pamela Gherardo, Nicola Mori
Summary: This study investigated the entomopathogenic nematodes associated with hay meadows in northern Italy after the invasion of Japanese beetle. The results showed that Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae were the main nematode species found, and their occurrence was influenced by the density of the Japanese beetle.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
E. Ruzzier, M. Muzzi, M. Kadej, A. Battisti, A. Di Giulio
Summary: Hastisetae are detachable setae found in the larvae of a type of beetle called Megatomine. These setae are commonly recognized as contaminants and can cause inflammation symptoms in humans if they come into contact with them through direct contact, ingestion, or inhalation. A recent study examined the structure of the hastisetae and found that they do not have any secretory function and are actually a specialized type of mechanoreceptor.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Andrea Battisti, Jose A. Hodar, Rodolfo Hernandez, Stig Larsson
Summary: This study examines the relationship between population density and egg mass aggregation in two species of pine processionary moths. The results show that egg mass aggregation deviates from uniform distribution at high population density, which may have significant implications for insect outbreaks.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Aurora Bozzini, Saverio Francini, Gherardo Chirici, Andrea Battisti, Massimo Faccoli
Summary: Extreme weather events are causing an increase in forest-pest outbreaks, with a windthrow event in 2018 in the southern Italian Alps causing a shift in populations of the European spruce bark beetle. This study used remote sensing techniques and a random forest model to detect outbreak spots in the southeast Alps. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 72% in 2022 and 58% in 2021, demonstrating the potential to locate even small outbreak areas or areas with mixed healthy and infested trees.
Article
Entomology
Julianne Farrell, Myron P. Zalucki, Andrea Battisti
Summary: Host specificity of an Australian processionary moth species was studied using reciprocal transplant experiments. The moth, Ochrogaster lunifer, has genetically distinct nesting forms associated with acacias and eucalypts. The study confirmed genetic separation and the importance of host specialization in the speciation process.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Paula Baptista, Elisavet Chatzivassiliou, Francesco Di Serio, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Emilio Stefani, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Massimo Faccoli, Ciro Gardi, Alzbeta Mikulova, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Giuseppe Stancanelli, Fabio Stergulc, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission has proposed the use of sulfuryl fluoride on ash log shipments for phytosanitary certification. The Panel on Plant Health conducted a quantitative assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis for two different commodities fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride. They concluded that the likelihood of pest freedom is lower for ash logs with bark compared to debarked ash logs.
Article
Entomology
Mizuki Uemura, Myron P. Zalucki, Andrea Battisti
Summary: This study observed the tent construction and foraging behavior of Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillars and found differences among individuals in terms of sex, body size, and larval stage. The findings highlight the importance of communal living as a defense against environmental elements and natural enemies, and provide insights for further investigation in polyethism.
Article
Forestry
Davide Nardi, Aurora Bozzini, Giuseppe Morgante, Angelo Gaccione, Valerio Finozzi, Andrea Battisti
Summary: During pest outbreaks, mapping tools are crucial for accurate detection. Participatory projects can provide ground data with high accuracy in detecting early-stage infestations and small spots. However, satellite approaches are essential for estimating infestations due to spatial bias in ground data. This study shows how a participatory approach involving nonspecialized staff and a GIS-based app can provide complementary ground truth data to satellite data.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juan Carlos Cambronero-Heinrichs, Andrea Battisti, Peter H. W. Biedermann, Giacomo Cavaletto, Victor Castro-Gutierrez, Lorenzo Favaro, Giacomo Santoiemma, Davide Rassati
Summary: Ambrosia beetles have abundant bacteria in their active galleries, which play a crucial role in providing nutrition and defense. This study supports the hypothesis of mutualistic interaction between Erwiniaceae bacteria and ambrosia beetles.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Paula Baptista, Elisavet Chatzivassiliou, Francesco Di Serio, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Emilio Stefani, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Daniel Rigling, Massimo Faccoli, Giovanni Iacopetti, Alzbeta Mikulova, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Giuseppe Stancanelli, Fabio Stergulc, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission requested a risk assessment for specific commodities from the EFSA Panel on Plant Health. This assessment focused on the plant health risks posed by 3- to 20-year-old evergreen topiary plants imported from the UK. Four pests (Scirtothrips dorsalis, Bemisia tabaci, Diaprepes abbreviatus, and Epiphyas postvittana) were selected for further evaluation, and it was determined that 9,724 or more out of every 10,000 living sculptures would be free from E. postvittana.