Preventing effect of the pollen amount of Cryptomeria japonica using the fungal parasite Sydowia japonica

Abstract

The reduction of the pollen amount of Cryptomeria japonica is required for controlling Japanese cedar pollinosis in Japan. Sydowia japonica is a fungal parasite of the male strobili of C. japonica. Spraying the male strobili with the conidial suspension of this fungus in November and December reduced the pollen amount of C. japonica by 3% and 17% of the control, respectively. These results suggest that the novel approach of preventing pollen dispersal using pollen-specific fungal infection is an effective measure for pollinosis prevention.