DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-024-5-0072

Current and Potential Phytopathological Problems of Silver Fir

Michal Samek¹

¹ Department of Forest Protection Service, Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 252 02 Jíloviště, Czech Republic

In recent years, forest species with a small percentage of distribution are used more often than ever. Climate change and some serious biotic agents (especially bark beetles) are main reason why we can observe this phenomenon. The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. It has the largest distribution area of all the European species of fir. A lot of careful consideration and strategic adaptation within management practices of fir forests is necessary for succesfull establishment. It’s quite common that fir stands are affected by the competitive pressure of beech. This may be due to climate change, as well as biotic factors such as plant diseases. Most important diseases are wood decay fungi like Armillaria spp. and Heterebasidion spp., needle cast Herpotrichia needle browning or Lirula nervisequia and needle rust especially Pucciniastrum epilobii. For some pathogens like Herpotrichia needle browning seems it’s typical to be triggered by a complex disease resulting from synergistic interaction of several fungal pathogens. Climate change is intricately linked to the heightened prevalence of forest pathogens with significant damage potential in Europe.

Keywords: fir, forest pathogens, needle cast, forest protection, drought

pages: 72-78, online: 2025