Update of the situation of thousand cankers disease in Italy
In Italy, both the fungus Geosmithia morbida and its vector Pityophthorus juglandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae - walnut twig beetle) the causal agents of thousand cankers disease (EPPO A2 List), were recorded for the first time in the Veneto region in 2013 (EPPO RS 2014/001). They were subsequently found in Piemonte in 2015 (RS 2016/153), in Lombardia in 2016, in Toscana in 2018 (eradicated in 2020) and in Emilia-Romagna in 2019 (RS 2019/102). The NPPO of Italy informed the Secretariat of new outbreaks detected as a result of official surveys:
- In October 2021, a second outbreak was found in Emilia-Romagna region (municipality of Agazzano, province of Piacenza). G. morbida and its vector P. juglandis were detected in two walnut trees (Juglans regia) grown in a small plot with other tree species.
- In May 2022, G. morbida and its vector P. juglandis were detected in Toscana region, in a plantation of J. regia for wood production in the municipality of Reggello (province of Firenze).
- In June 2022, G. morbida and its vector P. juglandis were detected again in Toscana region, in two plants of Juglans nigra in a public park in the municipality of Firenze. The plants were 2 km apart.
In all cases, eradication measures have been applied.
The pest status of Geosmithia morbida in Italy is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
The situation of Pityophthorus juglandis in Italy can be described as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2022-01, 2022-06, 2022-07).