First report of Mycosphaerella dearnessii in Switzerland and in Germany
Mycosphaerella dearnessii (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) has been found for the first time in Switzerland in 1995-06. The disease was observed on five Pinus mugo (approximately 20-30 years old) and two P. uncinata in the cemetery of the municipality of Zollikon near Zürich. But it was not observed on P. sylvestris trees adjacent to the diseased trees. Control measures were immediately applied. Authors recalled that this fungus is thought to be of American origin, but that it has been recorded in the past in Bulgaria on P. nigra, in Spain on P. radiata, in Austria on P. nigra, in Croatia on P. halepensis, in Georgia, and recently in France (EPPO RS 94/087) and in southern Germany on Pinus mugo (this is also a new record). Authors concluded that this disease is perhaps more widely present in Europe than previously thought, as it may remain latent under certain conditions. EPPO continues to regard the reports from Austria, Bulgaria and Spain as unconfirmed.
Sources
Holdenrieder, O.; Sieber, T.N. (1995) First report of Mycosphaerella dearnessii in Switzerland.
European Journal of Forest Pathology.
Pehl, L. (1995) Lecanosticta-Nadelbräune - Ein neue Kiefernkrankheit in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pflanzenschutzdienstes.