Situation of Ceratocystis platani in Greece
In Greece, Ceratocystis platani (EPPO A2 List) was first detected in 2003 in Messenia prefecture and gradually invaded the neighbouring prefectures of Ilia and Arcadia (see EPPO RS 2004/009). In 2009, the disease was observed in the Achaia prefecture. As of 2010, the disease had already killed thousands of oriental plane (Platanus orientalis) trees of all ages and sizes in these infected areas of Peloponnese. In 2010, C. platani was also found for the first time in the region of Epirus (Northwestern Greece, close to the border with Albania). In the region of Epirus, the disease was found near Tyria, in the Ioannina prefecture, as well as along the Kalamas river in the Thesprotia prefecture. Considering the number of infected trees, it is estimated that C. platani has been present in the region of Epirus since 2005-2006. It is suspected that the fungus has been transferred to the Epirus region with machinery used during the construction of a new highway. The spread of C. platani is considered to be a serious threat to oriental plane trees in Greece.
The situation of Ceratocystis platani in Greece can be described as: Present, several foci in Peloponnese and Epirus regions.
Sources
Tsopelas P, Soulioti N (2014) Invasion of the fungus Ceratocystis platani in Epirus: a potential threat of an environmental disaster in the natural ecosystems of plane trees. Abstract of a paper presented at the 15th Hellenic Phytopathological Congress (Corfu, GR, 2010-10-05/10). Phytopathologia Mediterranea 53(2), 340-376.