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AIR3-CT94-1962
Phyode: Involvement of Phytophthora Fungi in the Mediterranean Ecosystems Oak Decline |
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Contract No | AIR3-CT94-1962 |
| Total Cost | 610 232 | |
| EC Contribution | 450 000 | |
| Start Date | 01/01/1995 | |
| Duration | 30 months |
In the Mediterranean ecosystems, the Quercus species are the dominant arboreal plants and represent the climax in vegetation evolution. These ecosystems not only play a very important ecological role (fauna, flora, control of erosion) but also a high economic and social value (wood, cattle, wildlife, landscape, sustained agriculture) and in the case of cork oak (Quercus suber), the industrial use of cork.
The CAP and national policies favour the afforestation of agricultural land and the agroforestry, with a special consideration about the utility of oaks in this way.
In the early '80, some problems of oak decline and death are detected, and in the past ten years are increasing in importance, with an increasing risk of deforestations and desertifications. These problems are originally attributed to biotic and abiotic causes. In investigations carried out in 1991 and 1992, Phytophthora cinnamomi is isolated. This fungus is very active in woody plants causing root rot, cankers, decline and death of plants, and is considered as a very dangerous pathogene agent against oaks and other trees (Eucalyptus, chestnuts, avocados,...).
The main objective of this proposal is to find out the existing relationship between the decline in Quercus and the activities of Phytophthora fungi in the Mediterranean ecosystems and avoid or control oak decline. In order to reach this objective, the teams involved in the project will develop a survey in France, Portugal and Spain.
In this survey, will be detected and identified the Phytophthora fungi associated with oak decline as well as their distribution according to different biotic/abiotic factors (host species, oroqradhic situations,...). The isolates obtained will be characterized intra and interspecifically. Other activities will be directed to confirm the pathogenicity of these fungi in the main oak species, as well as in different maquis species.
Finally, some works will be carried out to study the influence of predisposing factors (specially water stress) it the susceptibility of oaks to Phytopthora fungi.
Contacts
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