First report of Eutypella parasitica in Poland
Eutypella parasitica (Eutypella canker of maple - formerly EPPO Alert List) is reported for the first time in Poland. The fungus was identified during surveys conducted in autumn 2015 and summer 2016 in Bohemian and Polish Silesia (an area covering parts of the Czech Republic and Poland). During this survey, nearly 140 locations with Acer species were studied. As a result, E. parasitica was recorded in 35 locations in the foothills of the Beskyd Mountains: in a belt ranging from Paskov and Frýdlant nad Ostravicí (CZ) in the west, to Ustroń (PL) in the east (covering an area of approximately 400 km2). It was found in 25 forest stands (e.g. alluvial forests, ravine forests, mixed (Acer, Larix, Picea) commercial forests), in 9 riparian stands, and in 1 pasture. E. parasitica was not found in urban parks, avenues or private gardens. The disease was mainly found on Acer pseudoplatanus, and to a lesser extent on A. platanoides and A. campestre. Considering the damage caused by E. parasitica to valuable timber, it is concluded that E. parasitica represents a risk for maple cultivation in Silesia.
Note: E. parasitica is native to the USA and Canada and causes perennial cankers and wood decay on several species of maple trees. In the EPPO region, E. parasitica was first recorded in Slovenia (EPPO RS 2005/176) and then in Croatia (EPPO RS 2008/028), Austria (EPPO RS 2007/051), the Czech Republic (EPPO RS 2015/210), Hungary (EPPO RS 2016/108), and Germany (EPPO RS 2016/172).
Sources
Černý K, Hrabětová M, Svobodová I, Mrázková M, Kowalski T (2017) Eutypella parasitica naturalised in Bohemian and Polish Silesia. Forest Pathology. DOI: 10.1111/efp.12347