Fungal flora associated with Tomicus piniperda L. in an area close to a timber yard in southern Poland

Abstract:  The association between Tomicus piniperda L. (Col., Scolytinae) and fungi was studied in a Pinus sylvestris L. forest in Mielec-Mo?ciska. Fungi were isolated from overwintered adult beetles taken from two stands situated in different distance from timber yard. Two media were used for isolation. The results showed great diversity of fungi associated with T. piniperda : 1895 cultures, representing 64 species, were isolated. Penicillia and Hormonema dematioides were the dominant species, found in 20.2% and 17.8% of all beetles, respectively. A frequently isolated ophiostomatoid fungi was Ophiostoma minus . Qualitative and quantitative differences in the mycobiota composition of this insect between two stands were detected. The highest richness and diversity of fungal species appeared in the samples taken from the location where the trees were heavily damaged by shoot-feeding of T. piniperda . Differences were most clear for the pathogenic O. minus , which was a common fungal associate of the insects in this stand.