First report of Phytophthora austrocedri on Cupressus sempervirens in Iran
In Iran, symptoms of foliage bronzing were observed in 2016 on Cupressus sempervirens trees in a public park in Qazvin city. Affected trees were also displaying orange-brown lesions in the phloem around the stem collar. Samples were taken from phloem tissues in the lesion edges for diagnosis. Results of the laboratory tests (morphological, molecular, and pathogenicity tests) confirmed the presence of Phytophthora austrocedri in symptomatic samples. This is the first time that P. austrocedri is reported from Iran, as well as the first time that it is found in association with symptoms on Cupressus sempervirens. The possible source of introduction of P. austrocedri into Iran remains unknown.
Sources
Mahdikhani M, Matinfar M, Aghaalikhani A (2017) First report of Phytophthora austrocedri causing phloem lesions and bronzing on Cupressus sempervirens in northern Iran. New Disease Reports 36, 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2017.036.010