Situation of Phytophthora ramorum in Finland
In Finland, Phytophthora ramorum (EPPO Alert List) was first found in spring 2004 on rhododendron plants which had originally been produced in other EU countries. In August 2004, P. ramorum was detected in one Finnish nursery (see EPPO RS 2004/159). Since 2004, despite strict regulations on the movements of plants, P. ramorum has been found every year on imported material. From 2004 to 2006, a total of 586 samples was collected from symptomatic host plants, and P. ramorum was detected in 51 rhododendron plants. However, in domestic plant production, P. ramorum was found in only one Finnish nursery in 2005, and all infected plants were destroyed. During these studies, another pathogen Phytophthora inflata was identified in 2005 on several cultivars of rhododendron.
The situation of Phytophthora ramorum in Finland can be described as follows: Present, few outbreaks, under official control.
Sources
Lilja A, Rytkönen A, Kokkola M, Parikka P, Hantula J (2008) First report of Phytophthora ramorum and P. inflata in ornamental rhododendrons in Finland. Plant Disease 91(8), p 1055.