First report of Dothistroma pini in Germany
The NPPO of Germany recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Dothistroma pini on its territory. In November 2018, 3 Pinus jeffreyi trees and 2 Pinus ponderosa trees were found to be infected by D. pini in Göttingen, in Niedersachsen. Symptoms on the trees had been notified to the Plant Protection Service in July 2018 and samples had been taken twice to confirm the identity of the fungus. Laboratory tests were carried out by the official laboratory in Brandenburg and the JKI laboratory. The three P. jeffreyi trees have already been felled due to the construction of a building at this location. Official eradication measures will continue to be taken in Göttingen.
Following this initial finding, D. pini was detected in 2 pine trees (Pinus spp.) in the municipality of Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg. One tree was growing in a private garden and the other was on the edge of a nearby wood. Samples had been collected in August 2018 and the identity of the fungus was confirmed in November 2018. Infections in other pine trees growing in the immediate surroundings could not be detected so far. In Baden-Württemberg, D. pini was also detected in January 2019 in the municipality of Ochsenhausen, in one pine tree growing in a private garden. Further monitoring is planned at this location. The origin of these outbreaks is unknown, eradication measures will be applied.
The pest status of Dothistroma pini in Germany is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Germany (2019-01, 2019-02).