First report of Chalara fraxinea in Guernsey
The NPPO of Guernsey recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detection of Chalara fraxinea (teleomorph Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus – EPPO Alert List) on its territory. In October 2012, ash dieback was observed on an outdoor plantation of young ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior). The disease was detected during a survey of recent ash plantations and the identity of the fungus was confirmed by real-time PCR. Infected trees had been imported from a nursery in the United Kingdom which was subsequently found to have the disease. In the affected plantation, one standard tree was showing cankers on the stem and dieback was observed in 9 (out of 80) two year-old trees.
The pest status of Chalara fraxinea in Guernsey is officially declared as: Transient, actionable and under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Guernsey (2012-11).