• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 1992

This study was conducted to identify fungi causing canker dieback and melanconis disease of walnut trees (Juglans sinensis Dode) in Korea and clarify the pathogenicity and factors affecting the growth of these fungi. The causal fungi isolated from infected walnut stems and branches obtained from the commercial walnut orchards in Cheonwon, Goesan, Youngdong were identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug, ex Fries) Casati et de Notaris, Phoniopsis albobestita Fairman, Melanconis juglandis (Ellis et Everhart) Graves and their pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation test. Temperature range for minimum growth of three fungi was 8 to $35^{\circ}C$ and the optimum temperature for mycelial growth of B. dothidea and P. albobestita ranged from 25 to $30^{\circ}C$, while the optimum temperature for M. juglandis ranged from 20 to $25^{\circ}C$. The optimum pH range for mycelial growth of P. albobestita was 4.0~5.0 and that for B. dothidea and P. juglandis 4.0~8.0. Glucose, sucrose, starch or maltose, as a carbon source, and histidine or potassium nitrate as a nitrogen source were more suitable compounds for growth. of B, dothidea, P. albobestita grew very well on the medium containing alanine and potassium nitrate as a nitrogen source, and utilized well glucose and sucrose as a carbon source. M. juglandis grew well on the medium containing glucose, and sucrose as a carbon source and utilized well potassium nitrate as a nitrogen source. The dieback and twig blight caused by P. albobestita were more severe than those by B. dothidea and M. juglandis at three locations investigated. Incidences of canker and dieback were more frequently observed in aged walnut trees than in young ones.