OCCURRENCE OF LOPHODERMIUM SPP. IN YOUNG SCOTS PINE STANDS IN LATVIA

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread coniferous species in boreal zones and it has a considerable economic importance in the Baltic countries. The impact of fungi on Scots pine has been known also historically, but it is predicted that it will increase in future due to climate changes that will have a positive effect on incidence and vitality of various species of fungi. The aim of the study was to characterize the occurrence of Lophodermium spp. in young stands of Scots pine in Latvia. Needle samples were collected from young pine stands (aged 1 - 14 years) located in all regions of Latvia. DNA extraction from needles was done using modified CTAB protocol, presence of Lophodermium in total extracted DNA was detected using a PCR method. Meteorological data - air temperature and precipitation - were obtained from all 34 observation stations of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. The presence of Lophodermium spp. was detected in all surveyed stands, and occurrence differences between the western and eastern regions were significant (p = 0.004). The occurrence of Lophodermium spp. in the eastern and western regions was affected by the meteorological conditions in autumn and winter of the previous years, as well as differences in the given years' air temperature and precipitation. In 2016, the eastern region of Latvia had a higher May-August precipitation and, to a lesser extent, temperature, which correlated with a higher occurrence of Lophodermium spp.