Update on the situation of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Russia and first report in Belarus
In the European part of Russia, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (formerly EPPO Alert List) was found for the first time in 2011 in St Petersburg (Central European Russia). Apothecia of the fungus were detected in 2 botanical gardens (Dendrarium of the Saint Petersburg State Forestry Technical University - Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences) but at that time, no particular symptoms were observed on ash trees. In 2012, ash dieback symptoms were recorded in tree stands near St Petersburg (Dudergof Heights). On this site, numerous declining ash trees were observed, as well as some dead trees. In 2013, the disease was also detected in a State Nature Reserve ‘The Northern Coast of the Neva River Bay’ but no tree mortality was observed on this site. In 2014, H. fraxineus was found during a survey of ash stands (dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica) planted along a major road (M1) going from the border of Russia with Belarus to Moscow. It is noted that by 2014 in Belarus more than 54% of ash stands had died most likely because of ash dieback (prior to this report the EPPO Secretariat had no data on the occurrence of the disease in Belarus). Observations have shown that H. fraxineus is widely distributed along this major road (M1) and that the disease has reached the city of Moscow. In the Russian Far East, H. fraxineus has been detected in green and fallen leaves of F. mandshurica in Primorye territory. However, no dieback symptoms have been observed on ash trees. It is hypothesized that the Russian Far East is a part of the fungus’ native range. It is concluded that further studies are needed to better determine the distribution and impact of H. fraxineus in ash trees in Russian forests.
Sources
Musolin DL, Selikhovkin AV, Shabunin DA, Zviagintsev B, Baranchikov YN (2017) Between ash dieback and emerald ash borer: two Asian invaders in Russia and the future of ash in Europe. Baltic Forestry 23(1), 316-333.