First record of Erwinia amylovora in Lithuania
In Lithuania, the first symptoms of fireblight (Erwinia amylovora – EPPO A2 List) were observed in 2005 on a 30-year old Crataegus monogyna growing in a hedge. This first detection was made in the north of the country (Šiauliai region) at the beginning of June. In 2005, 17 outbreak sites were subsequently confirmed in 7 regions (Šiauliai, Klaipėda, Telšiai, Vilnius, Panšvežys, Kaunas and Tauragė) on Crataegus, Cotoneaster and Malus domestica (apple). Despite strict eradication measures (all infected trees and shrubs were burned), new outbreaks were found in Lithuania in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, E. amylovora was detected in 10 outbreak sites in 6 regions, and in 2007 it was found in 11 outbreak sites in 5 regions. In 2008, 209 orchards and private gardens (covering approximately 1095 ha), 111 fruit trees nurseries (62 ha), and 99 ornamental tree nurseries (194 ha) were surveyed for the presence of fireblight across the whole territory of Lithuania. In 2008, only 3 new outbreak sites were identified: 1 pear tree (Pyrus communis) in a private garden (Šiauliai region), and 2 pear trees at 2 different locations in Tauragė region. All infected pear trees were destroyed. In 2008, 13 outbreak sites remained under the quarantine regime in Lithuania. However, the NPPO noted that the number of new outbreaks was much reduced in 2008 compared to previous years and it considered that this could be explained by both the effective use of phytosanitary measures and the unfavourable weather conditions in 2008.
The situation of Erwinia amylovora in Lithuania can be described as follows: Present, first detected in 2005, 13 outbreak sites in 2008, under eradication.
Sources
Baranauskaitė L, Jogaitė V, Jankuvienė L (2008) A three-year study of fireblight in Lithuania. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 95(3), 19-26.
NPPO of Lithuania, 2009-02.