Status of Charcoal Canker on Oak Trees at a Site of Community Importance: Case Study of the Relict Castelfidardo Forest (SIC Area IT520008, Castelfidardo, AN, Italy)

Oaks are dominant and key tree species in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. However, recent decades, oak forests have been heavily impacted by decline, a worldwide phenomenon exacerbated climate change. The charcoal disease agent Biscogniauxia mediterranea is involved the decline of formations variety contexts. Here, we investigated impact role B. oaks Castelfidardo Forest, relict wood late Holocene Site Community Importance. We established five plots within which recorded positions, any symptoms signs association to declining trees, deadwood associated mycota. Of 471 inspected, 7.0% showed brownish exudates on stems, 46.9% epicormic shoots along main trunk, 24.4% black carbonaceous stromata diseased branches trunks. was most severe for Quercus cerris, comprised #4 #5, at 50.0% (81/162 trees) 29.0% (33/114), respectively; then robur plot #3, 40.0% (38/95); finally pubescens #1 #2, 13.7% (7/51) 12.3% (6/49), respectively. Bark tissues were collected from trees with cankers taken laboratory microscopic examination identification mycological molecular methods. This investigation revealed close between pronounced reduction vitality incidence mediterranea. Deadwood equally distributed among plots, colonized Basidiomycota. high canker pathogen appeared be related environmental stresses. absence silvicultural management, competition physiologically mature geographic isolation this residual may predisposed decline.