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Biological control measures are being implemented for pine trees in Zhongshan Memorial Forest, Kinmen National Park to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Many Pinus thunbergii and Pinus elliottii in Zhongshan Memorial Forest, Kinmen National Park have died from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The park headquarters commissioned Professor Tseng Hsien-Hsiung of the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University to cultivate fungal natural enemies of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Esteyavermicola, Hyphodermapraetermissum, Hyphodermamutatum; or the fungal natural enemy of Monochamus alternatus, which an insect vector for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Beauveria bassiana. These natural enemies serve as a biological control measure that is friendly to the land and environment, preventing groundwater or soil pollution while preventing Bursaphelenchus xylophilus or its insect vector Monochamus alternatus. Control technologies not using pesticides for managing plant diseases and pests have gradually attracted the attention of countries around the world. To maintain the long-term ecological balance of a forest ecosystem, the application of biological control to manage forest diseases and pests is the way of the future. At present, biological control for Monochamus alternatus is still in trial stages. We implemented biological control on over 20 pine trees in April 2014, and found that their condition has been put under control. Hence, we carried out an investigation and GPS positioning of infected pine trees in Zhongshan Memorial Forest. Pine trees that were already dead were removed and burned. Biological control was completed for roughly 100 diseased pine trees in February. The biological agent, a fungal natural enemy, was injected into the pine trees via the roots or stem, and was transmitted via tracheid cells, randomly infecting Bursaphelenchus xylophilus or the larva, pupa and even adult Monochamus alternatus that have not yet left. We hope to thus control the condition of pine trees that have not yet died and prevent the disease from spreading.