Abstract:
Objective This study aims to systematically evaluate the resistance of multiple tree species in four Pinaceae genera (Pinus, Larix, Picea, and Abies) to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, clarify the invasion risk of pine wilt disease in China’s “northward and westward expansion”, and provide theoretical support for the early warning and scientific control of the disease.
Method A combined approach of natural infection and artificial inoculation with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was employed. Unmanned aerial vehicle images and time-series sub-meter resolution satellite images (2015–2023) were used to track long-term infection dynamics and symptomatic expression in five mixed-species plantations across Fushun County, Qingyuan County, Xinbin County, and Dongzhou District of Fushun City, Liaoning Province. The study focused on multiple species across four genera of Pinaceae, specifically Pinus tabuliformis, Pinus koraiensis, Larix olgensis, Picea koraiensis, and Abies holophylla.
Result Under natural infection conditions, since the invasion of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus into Fushun in 2017, symptomatic trees in Pinus tabuliformis and Pinus koraiensis forests exhibited a significant increasing trend, and infected forests were subsequently clear-cut. In contrast, neighboring Larix olgensis forests exhibited very few symptomatic trees, and no symptoms were observed in Picea koraiensis and Abies holophylla. Under artificial inoculation conditions, continuous time-series observations from 2021 to 2023 revealed that 83% of the inoculated Pinus koraiensis and 52% of the inoculated Pinus tabuliformis exhibited symptoms after three years. Meanwhile, large inoculated Larix olgensis trees showed no significant symptoms during the same period.
Conclusion The study identifies Pinus tabuliformis and Pinus koraiensis as highly susceptible species to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Fushun, while naturally grown Larix olgensis trees exhibit relatively high resistance, Picea koraiensis and Abies holophylla trees demonstrate strong resistance to the disease.