W. Livingston, R. Blanchette, M. Brenner
1985
Citations
1
Influential Citations
8
Citations
Journal
Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Abstract
Ethylene-releasing agents (ethephon, ethanedial dioxime, etacelasil, 2-chloroethyl-methylbis(phenylmethoxy)-silane, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) applied to dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobiumpusillum Pk.) infections on black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in four separate tests (August 1982, 1983, and 1984 and May 1983) promoted premature abscission of mistletoe shoots. Concentrations of the chemicals ranged from 12 to 5000 μg/g. Surfactants (Ortho X-77 and PGFI-100) were evaluated for increasing the effectiveness of the ethylene-releasing agents. The treatment combination that consistently resulted in 74–100% abscission of dwarf mistletoe shoots was August applications of 2500 μg/g ethephon plus either surfactant. Treatments did not significantly affect growth of black spruce or subsequent growth of dwarf mistletoe shoots. Abscission of dwarf mistletoe shoots prevents spread of the disease in black spruce for 2 years and for at least 4 years in some western conifers.