Present phytosanitary situation of Portuguese forests

Surveys carried out in conifer stands in the Azores and on the Portuguese mainland identified fungi causing serious new damage to pines and other conifer species. The most important are Dothistroma septospora found on needles of Pinus spp., Seiridium cardinale causing stem and twig canker of cypress and a new pathogen of the genus Elytroderma infecting needles of Pinus pinea with a subsidiary effect on stem and branches. After fires, new pathogens appeared in P. pinaster stands in North Portugal. Surveys in burnt plots showed the presence of the two very important root parasites, Rhizina undulata and Heterobasidion annosum , as well as species of the Ceratocystis complex producing not only blue stain, but also a wilt disease. Forest fires are often also associated with scolytid attacks on P. pinaster , specially by Tomicus piniperda, T. minor and Ips sexdentatus.