Effects of needle cast diseases on the growth of a 33-year-old Douglas-fir provenance plantation in northwestern Bulgaria

In this study, the effects of defoliation caused by fungal pathogens on the tree vitality and growth of a 33-year old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenance plantation in northwestern Bulgaria was presented. The results of the conducted surveys in 2011 and 2020 showed that there were significant differences between the individual provenances of Douglas-fir concerning their susceptibility to the needle cast diseases, caused by the fungal pathogens Rhabdocline pseudotsugae and Phaeucryptopus gaeumannii. The extent of damage, expressed as the amount of Douglas-fir needles cast, varied among provenance groups in individual years. A serious degree of defoliation was assessed among all continental provenances. In 2011, all examined trees from the group of continental provenances had severe symptoms of the needle cast disease. In 71.5% of them, the defoliation of the crowns was over 25% – moderately to severely affected. The average degree of defoliation varied from 18.3% (32 Wаrm Springs) to 89.3% (55 Alamogordo). In 2020, severe defoliation was found among all continental provenances. Both fungal pathogens were found as causes of the defoliation of 64.3% of the trees. The growth indicators: average height, average diameter at breast height, average height- and diameter increment for survived provenances in 2011 (at age 24) and 2020 (at age 33) were evaluated. The loss of needles and the reduced physiological function of the trees affected their vitality in the following years. Relationships between the average current annual height and diameter increment by provenance groups for 2003–2011 and 2011–2020 were calculated. It was found that with an increase in the degree of defoliation, the height and diameter increment of the provenances decreases.