Pine wilt is unusual because it is caused by which organism type?

Pine wilt is unusual because it is caused by which organism type?

• A. Nematode
• B. Fungus
• C. Bacteria
• D. Virus

Answer: (A)

Nematodes can cause pine wilt. The disease is driven by the pinewood nematode, a tiny parasitic roundworm (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) that invades the tree’s water‑conducting tissues and blocks water transport, leading to rapid wilting and death. This is unusual because many pine diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses rather than nematodes. The nematode is typically carried into trees by wood-boring beetles (Monochamus species), which spread it from infected to healthy trees.

Nematodes can cause pine wilt. The disease is driven by the pinewood nematode, a tiny parasitic roundworm (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) that invades the tree’s water‑conducting tissues and blocks water transport, leading to rapid wilting and death. This is unusual because many pine diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses rather than nematodes. The nematode is typically carried into trees by wood-boring beetles (Monochamus species), which spread it from infected to healthy trees.