Impact of Cameraria ohridella on Aesculus hippocastanum growth and long-term effects of trunk injection with pesticides

ABSTRACT

Defoliation caused annually by Cameraria ohridella has a considerable impact on the general condition of horse chestnut trees. We investigated the consequences of tree endotherapy against this insect. Wood samples, leaves and insect specimens were collected ten years after the treatment (injection) with pesticides. Insect invasion was manifested in all investigated trees by distinct radial growth depression. Treatment resulted in a growth upturn, while non-treated trees maintained decreased growth. The overall foliage infestation level was lower in treated trees, but pupal mass and potential fecundity of insect females were not affected. Our study revealed a long-lasting, positive effect of endotherapy on trees’ appearance and growth.

KEYWORDS:

• Basal area increment
• imidacloprid
• insect outbreak
• potential fecundity
• radial increment
• tebuconazole
• tree health

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Kórnik Arboretum manager Kinga Nowak-Dyjeta for assistance in organizing the research, Kamil Gęsikiewicz for technical help and three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments during the preparation of the final version of the work. We would like to thank American Journal Experts for linguistic revision of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Science Centre (Poland) [grant number 2012/07/B/NZ9/01315] and by the statutory activities of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences.