Situation of several quarantine pests in Lithuania in 2015
The NPPO of Lithuania has recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the results of national surveys conducted in 2015 on several quarantine pests. The pest status officially declared by the NPPO is indicated in bold.
- Bacteria
Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (EPPO A2 List): in 2015, 17 outbreaks of potato ring rot were detected. All were found on ware potatoes grown in small scale farms (with the exception of 2 growers who had potato fields of more than 50 ha). All infected potatoes had been grown from farm-saved seed potatoes. All infected potatoes have been destroyed and phytosanitary measures have been applied in accordance with EU Directive 2006/56/EC. These measures will be implemented during the next 4 years.
Present: only in some areas where host crop(s) are grown.
Erwinia amylovora (EPPO A2 List): in 2015, 1 outbreak was detected in the Kaunas region. Eradication measures were applied. All infected trees and potential hosts located within a radius of 10 or 20 m around them were destroyed (uprooted and burned). Restrictions on the movement of host plants will be applied in demarcated areas (focus and buffer zones) for the next 2 vegetative periods.
Present: except in specified pest-free areas.
- Nematode
Globodera rostochiensis (EPPO A2 List): in 2015, 18 outbreaks were detected. The nematode was detected in soil samples collected from several ware potato farms. The size of infested fields varied from 0.1 ha to 2.5 ha. The majority of outbreaks were found in the region of Vilnius. Official phytosanitary measures have been applied in accordance with EU Directive 2007/33/EC. In the infested areas, the cultivation of potatoes and other host plants is prohibited for the next 6 years.
Present: only in some areas where host crop(s) are grown.
- Fungus
Dothistroma septosporum (teleomorph = Mycosphaerella pini – EU Annexes): in 2015, 4 outbreaks were detected in the regions of Vilnius and Kaunas. Phytosanitary measures were taken to prevent the spread of the disease. All infected plants have been destroyed by incineration. Phytosanitary measures will be applied for the next 2 years.
Present: at low prevalence.
- Virus
Plum pox virus (Potyvirus, PPV - EPPO A2List): in 2015, 4 outbreaks of PPV were detected on plum trees (Prunus domestica) in the regions of Kaunas, Vilnius and Marijampolė. All infected plum trees have been destroyed by incineration. Phytosanitary measures will be implemented in infected areas for the next 3 years.
Present: under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Lithuania (2016-05).