Biology of Cryphonectica parasitica

Cryphonectria parasitica is a pathogenic Ascomycete fungus of chestnut, infecting the aerial parts of its host (bark, trunk, branches). Infection occurs by the spread of spores by rainwater, wind, insects and birds. When a spore reaches a wounded tree (broken branch, cutting wound, ...), this Ascomycete will develop in the bark and cambium until it destroys the conductive tissues, leading to the decline of the part located above the blight infection (life cycle of the fungus in Figure 1).