Mycosphaerella pini detected again in Lithuania
In Lithuania, the presence of Mycosphaerella pini (anamorph Dothistroma septosporum – EU Annexes) was first confirmed in 2008 in different parts of the country (EPPO RS 2011/084). The NPPO of Lithuania recently reported new findings of M. pini on its territory. During the annual visual inspections, 37 symptomatic samples were collected from pine trees (Pinus sylvestris, P. mugo, P. nigra, P. sibirica, P. cembra) and the presence of M. pini was confirmed in 22 of them (in July and October 2012) by morphological and PCR-based methods. Infected samples had been collected from 4 forest nurseries (14 positive samples), 3 forest seed orchards (3 positive samples), and 1 private park (5 positive samples). All infected sites were located in the Kaunas region. Phytosanitary measures were taken. The movement of plants from the outbreak areas is prohibited and additional measures are currently under development. Further investigations to determine the distribution of M. pini in Lithuania will be carried out.
The pest status of Mycosphaerella pini in Lithuania is officially declared as: Present, subject to official control.
Sources
NPPO of Lithuania (2012-11).