First report of Cryphonectria parasitica in Azerbaijan
Since 2003, mortality of chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) has been observed in the Great Caucasus region of Azerbaijan (north of the country). During field inspections done in 2004, the symptoms observed on dead and dying trees included crown dieback and cankers on the main branches with yellow to orange fungal stromata. Canker tissues were collected from the Gabala district in October 2004, and from the Ismailli, Oghuz and Zagatala districts in 2006. Laboratory analysis (morphology, DNA sequencing, pathogenicity tests) confirmed the presence of Cryphonectria parasitica (EPPO A2 List). This is the first report of C. parasitica in Azerbaijan.
The situation of Cryphonectria parasitica in Azerbaijan can be described as follows: Present, first observed in 2003/2004 in the north (Gabala, Ismailli, Oghuz and Zagatala districts).
Sources
New Disease Reports. BSPP website (last retrieved 2007-04).
Aghayeva DN, Harrington TC (2007) First report of Cryphonectria parasitica on chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Azerbaijan. http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2007/2007-39.asp