First report of Erysiphe corylacearum in Slovenia
Native to East Asia, Erysiphe corylacearum is a new powdery mildew of hazelnuts (Corylus spp.) which was first observed in Türkiye in 2013 and has since rapidly extended its distribution range in the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Mediterranean Basin, as well as some countries in Eastern and Central Europe (EPPO RS 2021/042, RS 2021/049, RS 2021/249, RS 2022/218).
In Slovenia, an unusual powdery mildew was observed in three intensive Corylus avellana plantations in the Drava region in September 2020 and subsequently in numerous other plantations across Slovenia. In October 2022, the same powdery mildew was observed on C. avellana in forests, first in Central Slovenia and then in forests throughout the country. It was also observed on an ornamental C. colurna tree in a park in Ljubljana. The fungus was then identified as Erysiphe corylacearum by morphological studies and sequencing.
Sources
Zajc J, Rot M, Snoj D, Žerjav M, Schroers HJ, Piškur B, Ogris N, Brglez A (2023) First report of Erysiphe corylacearum on Corylus avellana and C. colurna in Slovenia. New Disease Reports 47(1), e12160. https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.12159