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Effects of a Commercial Chitosan Formulation on Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Resistance Parameters in Loblolly Pine

Formally Refereed

Abstract

A commercially available chitosan product, Beyond™, was evaluated for its effects on loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., responses believed related to bark beetle resistance. Treatments were applied 4 times at approx. 6-wk intervals between May and November 2008. Five treatments were evaluated: ground application (soil drench), foliar application, ground and foliar applications combined, water-only (soil drench), and untreated. Two response variables were measured: yield of oleoresin accumulated at 48 h from wounds inflicted at breast height (5 sample periods) and area of lesion formed in response to inoculation with Ophiostoma minus (Hedgcock) Sydow & P. Sydow (2 sample periods). One treatment, ground application of Beyond, resulted in a significant increase in oleoresin yield (about 40% experiment-wide). Foliar treatment alone, or combined with ground application, did not result in a significant change in oleoresin yield. None of the treatments resulted in a difference in lesion area produced in response to inoculation with 0. minus. In summary, application of a commercially-prepared chitosan formulation to loblolly pine produced inconsistent responses in tree parameters associated with bark beetle resistance, suggesting that exogenously applied chitosan preparations have limited utility for managing bark beetles.

Keywords

induced response, southern pine beetle, blue stain, chitin, Ophiostoma minus

Citation

Klepzig, K. D.; Strom, B. L. 2011. Effects of a Commercial Chitosan Formulation on Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Resistance Parameters in Loblolly Pine. J. Entomol. Sci. 46(2): 124-134.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42338