First report of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi in Austria
The NPPO of Austria recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first findings of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi (formerly EPPO Alert List) in the regions of Vienna and Niederösterreich. In both cases, the identity of the bacterium was confirmed by PCR tests at the Institute for Sustainable Plant Production of AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety). In Vienna, the bacterium was found in a private garden on 14 trees of Aesculus x carnea cv. ‘Briotii’ which had been purchased from another EU Member State. In Niederösterreich, the bacterium was detected on Aesculus hippocastanum trees in a public place where new trees of different origins have been replanted several times from 2005 to 2009. The origin of the infection is unknown. In both regions, the Regional Plant Protection Services have ordered the infected trees to be uprooted and destroyed.
The pest status of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi in Austria is officially declared as Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2015-02).