Cláudia Fernandes

Dr. Cláudia Fernandes

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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3 July 2024 in Forests
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LFLuís Fernandes
Luís Fernandes
Diana Sofia PaivaDiana Sofia Paiva
Diana Sofia Paiva
ASAna Cristina Silva
Ana Cristina Silva
CFCláudia Fernandes
Cláudia Fernandes
AFAna Rita Avelino Fernandes
Ana Rita Avelino Fernandes
António PortugalAntónio Portugal
António Portugal
Fusarium circinatum, the causative agent of pine pitch canker disease, is a pathogenic fungus that poses a significant threat to pine forests globally. It infects various Pinus species, causing resinous cankers, needle discoloration, and tree death. The disease severely impacts forest ecosystems, necessitating cost-effective and environmentally friendly management strategies. Contaminated pine seeds and seedlings are the main pathways for introducing this fungus to disease-free areas. To mitigate this disease and prevent its spread, it is crucial to implement new processes in forest plant production systems that align with the existing conditions of forest nurseries, ensuring effective and sustainable management. With this in mind, a national collaborative study involving 14 Portuguese partners was initiated to develop new prevention and mitigation strategies. In this work, four different treatments—MennoFlorades, Captan, ethanol, and hot water—were tested for their ability to eliminate F. circinatum from contaminated Pinus seeds in vitro. The most effective treatments were selected for further in vitro assays and real-context nursery germination trials to assess their impacts on seed germination, plant production, and certification. MennoFlorades, Captan, and hot water were tested in the nursery, with hot water showing the most promising results due to its negligible impact on seedlings, eco-friendly nature, ease of implementation, and cost-effectiveness. These findings offer promising prospects for preventing pine pitch canker outbreaks in nurseries and, consequently, in forests.