Situation of Erwinia amylovora in Lombardia and Piemonte, Italy
In Lombardia (IT), fireblight caused by Erwinia amylovora (EPPO A2 List) was observed for the first time in 1997. The NPPO of Italy informed the EPPO Secretariat that E. amylovora has recently been detected in the municipality of Merone (Province of Como). During a survey carried out by the Regional PPO of Lombardia, the bacterium was detected in only 1 plant of Crataegus. The infected plant and potential host plants located within a radius of 10 m were destroyed (i.e. 70 plants in total, all belonging to the genus Crataegus). The NPPO added that in July 2009, E. amylovora had also been detected in the municipality of Vertemate con Minoprio (Province of Como) on 2 Pyrus and 1 Crataegus plants. Eradication measures were also applied and 136 potential host plants were destroyed (134 Pyrus and 2 Crataegus).
The NPPO of Italy also stated that E. amylovora was detected in 2009 in Piemonte region on 2 adjoining plants of Cotoneaster in the botanical garden of Villa Taranto (province of Verbano-Ciuso-Ossola). The two infected plants have been destroyed.
Sources
NPPO of Italy, 2009-07, 2009-11, and 2009-12.