Evaluating Dryocosmus Kuriphilus-induced Damage on Castanea Sativa

Summary

It is common practice to assess the damage caused by Dryocosmus kuriphilus by considering the abundance of galls alone rather than by also taking related branch corruption into consideration. We propose a composite damage index that takes into account the most important branch features, thus enabling more realistic damage assessment.

Abstract

Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu has become a major pest for Castaneasativa since its arrival in Europe. Its galling activity results in the formation of different gall types and prevents the development of normal shoots. Repeated and uncontrolled attacks cause, besides the production of galls and the attendant gall-related reduction in leaf area, progressive corruption of the branch architecture, including the death of branch parts, and an increase in dormant bud activation. Thus far, there have been few attempts to quantify branch architecture damage. Further, the different methods for assessing infestation degree (MAID) that have been developed focus only on the galls' presence and abundance.

Using the leaf area to sapwood area relationship as a green biomass indicator, we developed in a previous study a damage composite index (DCI) that takes into account the most important branch architectural features, allowing for realistic damage assessment during the entire epidemic process.

The aim of this study is to present this novel method and highlight differences in the damage description with respect to other broadly used indices. Results show how the DCI depicts branch damage better, especially during the epidemic peak, compared to MAID, which tend to underestimate it. We conclude by suggesting how to properly evaluate the overall impact of the pest by means of our composite damage index, the infestation degree using classic methods, and crown transparency evaluations.

Introduction

The chestnut gallwasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) is the most significant global insect pest of the genus Castanea^1,2,3. Through its repeated galling activity, it prevents and inhibits normal shoot development^4,5, causing a progressive reduction of leaf area and a consequent loss of tree green biomass and vigour^5,6, dormant bud reactivation⁵ and an increase in gallwasp post-emergence branch....

Protocol

1. Tree Selection and Assessment Design

1. If possible, identify the epidemic stage of the study area by determining the arrival years of Dryocosmus kuriphilus and Torymus sinensis and the T. sinensis parasitization rate by using reliable sources (e.g., scientific publications, forest services, chestnut grove managers' knowledge).
   1. If no reliable sources are available, identify the four main epidemic stages (Early, Peak, Recovery, Biocontrol) by computing the T. sinensis parasitization rate combined with the field observations described below.
      1. Identify the stage as early epidemi....

Results

A total of 25 localities in Ticino, Switzerland were visited between 2013 and 2016 in order to create a temporal gradient covering all gall wasp epidemic stages. In total, we collected and analyzed 94 branches in 5 sites at an early epidemic stage (arrival of the pest and beginning of tree damage), 200 branches in 5 sites at the epidemic peak (medium to severe damage due to high level of D. kuriphilus attack), 200 branches in 5 sites at the recovery stage (biocontrol by T. si.......

Discussion

Dryocosmus kuriphilus lay eggs in chestnut tree buds, inducing the formation of galls in spring. Repeated and uncontrolled D. kuriphilus attacks cause, in addition to gall formation, general branch corruption, including the death of many shoots and a significant loss in green photosynthetic leaf area⁵. Trees usually react by attempting to produce substitutive shoots via the activation of dormant buds. For this reason, especially during the epidemic peak and the recovery stage, cl.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Name of Material/ Equipment	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Clipboard	Any brand
Camping chair (Foldable and lightweight chair)	Any brand		Companies: Kelty, Campz, Half-Ton.
Felco 9 secateurs (One-hand pruning shear)	Felco		Other companies: Bahco.
AP-5M-Aluminium Pole (Telescopic tree pruner pole)	Bahco	8152079	Other companies: Spear & Jackson, Kingfisher, Hortex, Fiskars.
P34-37 top pruner (Telescopic tree pruner head)	Bahco	8002787
100 ft Fiberglass Long Tape (30 m measuring tape)	Stanley	34-790	Other companies: Tjima, Freemans, Astor, Lux.
Parallel 10.5mm (Low stretch kernmantel rope, flexible and lightweight for rope access)	Petzl	R077AA03	Basic equipment for tree climbing  (if necessary). Many other equipment configurations can be used for tree climbing, depending on the situation and on single operator preferences. We used Pezl equipment but many other companies offer similar products (e.g. Edelrid, Notch, Climbing technologies, DMM, ...). For a complete overview of equipment and companies we recommend a search in google  "tree climbing gear" as search keyword. PLEASE NOTE: tree climbing activities should be done only by professionals and are submitted to specific regulatory prescriptions according to the country.
Avao Sit (Harness for work positioning and suspension)	Petzl	C69AFA 2
Rig (Compact self-braking descender)	Petzl	D21A
Ascension (Handled rope clamp for rope ascents)	Petzl	B17ALA
Eclipse (Storage for throw-line)	Petzl	S03Y
Airline (Throw-line)	Petzl	R02Y 060
Jet (Throw-bag)	Petzl	S02Y 300
Vertex best (Comfortable helmet for work at height and rescue)	Petzl	A10BYA
Zillon (Adjustable work positioning lanyard for tree care)	Petzl	L22A 040
Ok (Lightweight oval carabiner)	Petzl	M33A SL