First report of the canker pathogen Endothia gyrosa on Eucalyptus in South Africa

During country-wide surveys of Eucalyptus plantations for Cryphonectria canker, cankers distinctly different from those usually associated with Cryphonectria cubensis were observed. These cankers were less severe and were exemplified by cracked and slightly swollen areas on the bark. Endothia gyrosa , a well-known pathogen of woody plants including Eucalyptus spp., was consistently associated with these cankers. The pathogen is easily distinguished from C. cubensis by the presence of orange-brown stromata and non-septate ascospores. Inoculations on Eucalyptus grandis resulted in lesions similar to those observed on naturally infected trees. The disease associated with E. gyrosa is widespread in South Africa, and research is required to establish control strategies.     

First report of bacterial canker of kiwifruit in Iran

Symptoms of bacterial canker of kiwifruit consisting of darkening and shrivelling along the bark were observed in kiwifruit orchards in Tonkabon, Iran. Longidutinal sections showed darkening of cortical and woody tissues. A fluorescent pseudomonad was consistently isolated from canker tissues. According to biochemical, physiological and pathogenicity tests the causal agent was identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. This is the first report of the disease in Iran.     

First report of Neofusicoccum parvum causing stem and branch canker on Cannabis sativa in Italy

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In 2016, symptoms of stem canker with branches dieback were detected in several Cannabis sativa L. crops, located in the northeast part of Italy (Rovigo...     

Discovery of the Eucalyptus canker pathogen Chrysoporthe cubensis on native Miconia (Melastomataceae) in Colombia

Chrysoporthe cubensis is one of the most serious canker pathogens on commercially grown Eucalyptus species in the tropics and subtropics. During recent surveys for native hosts of C. cubensis in Colombia, fungi with fruiting structures similar to those of C. cubensis were found on native Miconia theaezans and Miconia rubiginosa , both members of the Melastomataceae. These fungi were identified based on morphology and DNA sequences of the ITS1/ITS2 region of the rDNA operon and the β-tubulin genes. The majority of isolates from M. theaezans and M. rubiginosa grouped together with South American C. cubensis isolates from Eucalyptus species and Syzygium aromaticum (clove). However, some of the isolates from M. theaezans grouped with isolates of Chrysoporthella hodgesiana , another anamorph species linked to Chrysoporthe , from Tibouchina spp. in Colombia. Pathogenicity of these fungi was assessed on various Melastomataceae. Miconia rubiginosa was more susceptible to infection by C. cubensis than two Eucalyptus clones . Isolates of C. cubensis and Chrysop. hodgesiana were mildly pathogenic on the various hosts included in the pathogenicity trials, and most pathogenic on Tibouchina urvilleana and Tibouchina lepidota .     

First report of Thrips setosus in Belgium

The Japanese flower thrips, Thrips setosus, is a polyphagous insect which in Europe has mainly been observed on hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.). The first report of T. setosus in the EPPO region was in the Netherlands (2014). Since then it has been observed in four other countries inside the EPPO region: Germany (2015), the United Kingdom (2016), France (2016) and Croatia (2016). Its dispersal is most likely to be related to trade. Because of its polyphagous nature, there is a risk of spread to other economically important crops. Therefore, T. setosus was included in the national survey project ‘STATREGO’, during which the status of several invasive plant pests and diseases in Belgium was determined.