Approccio integrato per la tutela della biodiversità dei castagneti campani infestati dal cinipide galligeno

The European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is of considerable agroforestry and economic interest for Campania region. The invasive species Dryocosmus kuriphilus Y., the chestnut gall wasp, was accidentally introduced in Campania in 2005 causing extensive damages to chestnut forest. It has long been observed that environmental factors and the specific varietal genotype affect the plant exposure to parasite attack. In this study, the chance of associating specific genetic-molecular profiles of chestnut varieties to a predictive modeling of the engraftment risk of disease in a specific ecosystem, was explored. The Regional distribution data of infestation over the 2008-2012 period have been produced by the GIS, these allowed us to monitor the evolution of damages caused to the chestnut woods. The degree of genetic diversity in a collection of C. sativa was measured by means of RAPD molecular markers. Results proved that the spread of the pest impact, via GIS, is well linked to the analysis of genetic diversity and they will be useful for managing the biodiversity of chestnut in Campania.