First report of dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium oxycedri in the Arasbaran forests with Juniperus communis identified as a new host in Iran

Document Type : Scientific note

Authors

1 Corresponding author, PhD of Plant Pathology, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Urmia, Iran.

2 Researcher, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Urmia, Iran

3 MSc of Agronomy, Natural Resources and Watershed Department of East Azerbaijan, Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, Kaleybar, Iran

10.22092/ijfrpr.2025.367475.1645

Abstract

Dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC.) M. Bieb., a semi-parasitic plant in the family Viscaceae, is an important agent causing damage to juniper trees (Juniperus spp.) in various regions of Iran, including the northern territories and the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains. Previously, it has been reported on J. polycarpus and J. excelsa. Infection by this semi-parasitic plant reduces seed production and physiological activity of the host, increasing its susceptibility to pests and other plant diseases.
Junipers are among the most important coniferous species in Iran, occurring mainly in mountainous areas such as the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains, northern Khorasan, Hezar Masjid Mountains, the Arasbaran region, and the internal highlands of the Iran-Turan vegetation zone. Juniperus communis L. is an upright or creeping shrub, with brown to gray-brown bark on branches, trihedral young shoots, and sharp needle-shaped leaves, playing a key ecological role in the Arasbaran forests.
During a field survey in the Arasbaran forests, a population of J. communis was observed to be infected by a semi-parasitic plant in the Makidi area of Kaleybar (E: 46°54′17.1″, N: 38°50′55.3″; 1556 m a.s.l.). The plant exhibited scale-like leaves, jointed stems, unisexual and dioecious flowers, and monoecious anthers. Morphological comparisons with reliable references, including Flora of Iran (Nos. 72–73), confirmed its identity as A. oxycedri. The herbarium specimen (No. 11054) is deposited at the Herbarium of West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (WESTA). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of A. oxycedri infecting J. communis in Iran and the first confirmed record of this semi-parasitic plant in the Arasbaran forests.

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References

‒Dehshiri, M.M., 2011. Flora of Iran. Families of Viscaceae. No. 72-73. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 26p (In Persian)
‒Fallahchaei, M.M., Torabian, Y., Maani, M. and Ahmadi, F., 2011. The effect of infection of Arceuthobium oxycedri on Juniperus excelsa species in North West forests of Iran. Journal of Novel Researches on Plant Protection, 3(3): 235-246.
‒Kartoolinejad, D., Ravanbakhsh, H., Fadaei, Z., Moshki, A.R. and Nikouee, E., 2024. Infection of juniper trees (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) to juniper dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC.) M. Bieb.) in forests of Miankouh Tash protected area, Shahroud. Iranian Journal of Forest, 15(4): 497-514.
‒Kavosi, M.R., Faridi, F. and Hajizadeh, G., 2012. Effects of foliar application herbicides to control semi-parasitic plant Arceuthobium oxycedri. Nusantara Bioscience, 4(2): 76-80.
‒Zolfghari, E., Zahedi Amiri, G., Mozaffarian, V. and Naghdi, F., 2013. Investigation on most effective environmental factors influencing Juniperus communis establishment (Case study: Arasbaran forest, Mardanaghomchay water catchment area). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 21(3): 495-505.

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 30 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 22 April 2025

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