New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List
By searching through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included (or formerly included) on the EPPO Alert List, and indicated in bold the situation of the pest concerned using the terms of ISPM 8.
- New records
Acidovorax citrulli (EPPO A1 List) is first reported from Mexico. Fruits and plants with typical symptoms of this disease have been observed in 2017 and 2018 in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production fields of small growers and commercial nurseries in the municipality of Hopelchén, Campeche. In December 2018, symptomatic seedlings were tested by PCR and the identity of the pathogen was confirmed by sequencing (Hernández-Anguiano et al., 2023)
Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A2 List) is first reported from Northern and Southern Peru. Adult thrips were collected from blueberry plants (Vaccinium sp.) in the departments of Piura and Ica and identified based on morphology and molecular tests (Volosky & Cepeda, 2023).
- Detailed records
In Rhode Island (US), beech leaf disease caused by Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (EPPO Alert List) was first detected in 2020. The disease then spread rapidly throughout the state and is now confirmed in all five counties of Rhode Island. Members of the public are no longer invited to send reports to the Department of Environmental Management (State of Rhode Island, 2023).
In Florida (US), the giant African land snail (Lissachatina fulica) was found in June 2023 in the Miramar area of Broward county. This is not the first time that this invasive species is detected in Florida, it had been found at least in 1969 and 2011, but subsequently eradicated. Increased surveys are being carried out and treatments will be applied (metaldehyde-based molluscicide bait) to eradicate L. fulica (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2023).
In Switzerland, Ceratocystis platani (EPPO A2 List) was first observed in the 1980s in Ticino canton. Outbreaks were then detected in Geneva and Vaud cantons but were eradicated and the disease remained confined to restricted areas in Ticino canton. In March 2023, the fungus was detected again in Geneva canton in a single Platanus acerifolia tree. This infected tree was destroyed, and two other plane trees in the immediate vicinity were sampled but gave negative results. Plane trees (35) in the surroundings will be subject to intensive visual monitoring. In May 2023, C. platani was found in Ticino canton in a single P. acerifolia tree in a forest. This tree will be destroyed next winter (during dormancy to avoid any further spread) and plane trees in the surrounding area will be intensively surveyed (NPPO of Switzerland, 2023).
The pest status of Ceratocystis platani in Switzerland is officially declared as: Present, under eradication, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Tomato mottle mosaic virus (Tobamovirus, ToMMV – EPPO Alert List) has been found in Anhui province, China. In May 2021, ToMMV was detected in seedlings of Trichosanthes kirilowii (Cucurbitaceae). This plant is a perennial climbing herb whose fruit, seed, peel and roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine. According to the authors this is the first time that a natural infection of ToMMV is detected in T. kirilowii (Jin et al., 2023).
- Host plants
Tobacco ringspot virus (Nepovirus, TRSV – EPPO A2 List) has been detected in Asimina triloba (Annonaceae, pawpaw). In 2012, virus symptoms were observed in a pawpaw orchard in Michigan, USA. Affected trees showed foliar mosaic, vein yellowing, and necrosis, and symptoms were first mistaken for nutrient (magnesium/zinc) deficiency. Molecular (HTS, sequencing) and inoculation studies confirmed the presence of TRSW in symptomatic samples of A. triloba. In 2022, the virus was detected again in the same pawpaw orchard (Maclot et al., 2023).
Tomato spotted wilt virus (Tospovirus, TSWV – EPPO A2 List) has been detected in Agapanthus praecox (Amaryllidaceae). In May 2021 and July 2022, symptomatic leaf samples were collected from agapanthus plants showing chlorotic mottling and yellow lesions in Mbombela (Mpumalanga) and public gardens in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Molecular tests confirmed the presence of TSWV. In some of the samples, other viruses (agapanthus tungro virus, and agapanthus velarivirus) were also present (Bester et al., 2023).
Sources
Bester R, Demas SU, Maree HJ (2023) First report of tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus infecting agapanthus (Agapanthus praecox) in South Africa. Plant Disease 107(early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-22-2765-PDN
Hernández-Anguiano AM, Rosas-Medina V, Nava-Díaz C, Torres-Martínez JG (2023) Detection of Acidovorax citrulli in watermelon seedlings in Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico. Agrociencia 57(2) (early view) https://doi.org/10.47163/agrociencia.v57i2.2838
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Press Release (2023-06-20) Giant African land snail quarantine established in Broward County. https://www.fdacs.gov/News-Events/Press-Releases/2023-Press-Releases/Giant-African-Land-Snail-Quarantine-Established-in-Broward-County
Government of Rhode Island. RI.gov. Press Release (2023-06-22) Beech leaf disease is widespread in Rhode Island: DEM no longer requests reports. https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/beech-leaf-disease-widespread-rhode-island-dem-no-longer-requests-reports
Jin D, Ren C, Guo Y, He K Piao J, Ji Y, Li S (2023) First report of tomato mottle mosaic virus infecting Chinese snake gourd (Trichosanthes kirilowii) in China. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0161-PDN
Maclot F, Mandujano M, Nakasato K, Byrne J, Paudel S, Guyer D, Malmstrom CM (2023) First report of tobacco ringspot virus infecting pawpaw orchard (Asimina triloba) in North America. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-22-2639-PDN
NPPO of Switzerland (2023-04, 2023-07).
Volosky C, Cepeda D (2023) Primer registro de Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, 1919 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) en Perú, y su potencial riesgo fitosanitario para la agricultura chilena. Revista Chilena de Entomología 49(2), 413-419. https://www.biotaxa.org/rce/article/view/82407