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
In Bhutan, faunistic surveys conducted in 2017 reported 23 fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) for the first time. This includes Bactrocera latifrons (EPPO A1 List), Ptilona confinis (EU A1 quarantine pest), Acanthonevra dunlopi (EU A1 quarantine pest), Bactrocera divenderi, Zeugodacus diversus (Korneyev et al., 2023).
Bipolaris maydis (formerly EPPO A2 List) has been first detected in 2023 in Algeria in imported maize seeds (Zea mays) available from seed stores used by farmers (Zibani & Benslimane, 2024).
Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the species of the Gonipterus scutellatus species complex (EPPO A2 List), is first reported from Ecuador. It was identified in the city of Quito in 2023 (Crespo-Pérez et al., 2023).
- Detailed records
In California (US), Cryptostroma corticale (sooty bark disease of sycamore) was first observed in 2022 in Sacramento County on 3 silver maples (Acer saccharinum) and one A. platanoides. This is the first time that A. saccharinum is mentioned as a host (Garbelotto et al., 2024).
In Brazil Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the species of the Gonipterus scutellatus species complex (EPPO A2 List), is first reported from Minais Gerais damaging eucalyptus plantations. G. platensis had also been reported in 2022 from Bahia state (Ribeiro et al., 2023).
In Estonia, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) was first detected in May 2021 and eradicated (EPPO RS 2021/176, RS 2022/086). ToBRFV was found again during the official survey in June 2024 in two small greenhouses in Southern Estonia: one producing tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) in Valga parish and one producing tomato plants for planting in Mustvee parish. Plants did not show any symptoms. Official measures are being applied.
The pest status of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Estonia is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, at low prevalence, under eradication.
- Denied record
The NPPO of Argentina recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), a major pest of avocado (Persea americana), is absent from its territory. Its presence had been erroneously quoted in two scientific publications. A thorough analysis of the literature confirmed that these records were not substantiated by detailed observations or studies. In addition, recent consultations with entomologists and growers confirmed that S. catenifer has never been observed in Argentina (NPPO of Argentina, 2024).
- Host plants
Apple stem grooving virus (Capillovirus mali, ASGV, EU RNQP) and citrus leaf blotch virus (Citrivirus citri, CLVB, EU RNQP) are recorded for the first time on carambola (Averrhoa carambola) (Yang et al., 2024).
In Michigan (US) Bretziella fagacearum (EPPO A1 List) is widespread on oak trees causing oak wilt. It was first reported causing the death of chestnut trees (Castanea sativa x C. crenata) in a commercial orchard in 2021 (Chahal et al., 2024).
In inoculation experiments, the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A2 List) could survive and reproduce in logs of silver birch (Betula pendula) although both survival rate and reproduction levels were much lower than in pine (Pinus sylvestris) (Kulinich et al., 2024).
In Vietnam, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (EPPO A2 List) was known to occur on guava (Psidium guajava). It was recently recorded as causing damage on mulberry (Morus alba) in Lam Dong (Nguyen et al., 2024). Le et al. (2024) also report the first finding worldwide on a citrus species (C. maxima).
- Regulations
In the USA, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) is no longer regulated on tomato and pepper fruits for consumption. This allows US growers to market fruit grown at facilities where ToBRFV virus is detected, rather than having to destroy the fruit. The restrictions on import of host propagative material, including seed remain in force (APHIS, 2024).
- New pests and taxonomy
Phlyctinus callosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, EPPO Alert List) was recently showed to be a species complex of approximately eight to ten species, six of which have been named. In a recent review, Hansen et al. (2024) clarified that among all these species, only Phlyctinus callosus sensu stricto and Phlyctinus xerophilus sensu lato are crops pests. P. callosus is mostly distributed along the southern coast of South Africa, while P. xerophilus is distributed in inland valleys. The two species show similar biology, physiology and ecology in agro-ecosystems, and can be controlled using the same management measures.
Melon chlorotic spot virus (Mechlorovirus cucumeris, MeCSV) is a recently described virus (2019). It was first isolated from a melon plant (Cucumis melon) in France. In 2020, it was detected in Belgium in symptomatic tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), and in 2022 in cultivated sorrel (Rumex acetosa) that had been cultivated in the same greenhouse as the tomatoes (Temple et al., 2024).
Sources
APHIS (2024-06-17) APHIS protects domestic fruit production and deregulates tomato brown rugose fruit virus in fruit for consumption. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/aphis-protects-domestic-fruit-production-deregulates-tomato-brown-rugose
Chahal K, Wachendorf EJ, Miles LA, Stallmann A, Lizotte E, Mandujano M, Byrne J, Miles TD, Sakalidis ML (2024) First report of Bretziella fagacearum infecting chestnut in Michigan. Plant Disease 108(5), 1397. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-23-2267-PDN
Crespo‐Pérez V, Soto‐Centeno JA, Pinto CM, Avilés A, Pruna W, Terán C, Barragán Á (2023) Presence of the Eucalyptus snout beetle in Ecuador and potential invasion risk in South America. Ecology and Evolution 13(9), e10531.
Garbelotto M, Schmidt D, Popenuck T, Rooney-Latham S, Ewing C, Smith T (2024) First report of Cryptostroma corticale causing sooty bark disease in California and first worldwide report of silver maple as a host. Plant Disease 108(5), 1395-1396. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-23-2734-PDN
Hansen S, Haran JM, Johnson SA, Hévin NM, Addison P (2024) New data on an old pest complex: The status of Phlyctinus callosus Schönherr and Phlyctinus xerophilus Haran (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa. African Entomology 32, e17422. https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a17422
Korneyev SV, Hauser M, Borkent C, Maples BK, Roubtsova TV, Zangpo T, Dorji S, Chophel S, Dorji N, Dendup U, Dawa K (2023) The fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) in Bhutan: new faunistic records and compendium of fauna. Zoodiversity 57(2), 93-127.
Kulinich OA, Arbuzova EN, Chalkin AA, Kozyreva NI (2024) Experimental confirmation of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus survival and propagation in birch logs. Russian Journal of Nematology 32(1), 67-73.
Le TML, Nguyen HT, Nguyen TD, Nguyen GS, Trinh QP (2023) First report of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii infecting pomelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merri) in Vietnam. Academia Journal of Biology 45(2), 37–46.
Nguyen DH, Linh Le TM, Tien Nguyen H, Duyen Nguyen T, Hoa Pham T, Phap Trinh Q, Nguyen NC (2024) First report of the damaging pest Meloidogyne enterolobii parasitizing mulberry (Morus alba) in Vietnam. Plant Disease 108(5), 1406. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-23-2727-PDN
NPPO of Argentina (2024-06).
NPPO of Estonia (2024-06).
Ribeiro MF, Rezende DA, Freitas RG, Brito MD, Solce GN, Souza CD, Buneri ID, Zanuncio JC, Wilcken CF (2023) First detection of Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and its parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in eucalyptus plantations in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology 83, e271694. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.271694
Temple C, Blouin AG, Fontdevila N, Steyer S, Massart S (2024) First report of melon chlorotic spot virus in cultivated sorrel (Rumex acetosa) in Belgium. Plant Disease 108(3), 824. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-23-1155-PDN
Zibani A, Benslimane H (2024) First report of Bipolaris maydis in Algeria from imported corn seeds. European Journal of Plant Pathology 169(1), 59-63.
Yang HJ, Lim S, Yea MC, Kim RH, Kim YH (2024) First report of apple stem grooving virus and citrus leaf blotch virus infecting carambola worldwide. Plant Disease 108(5), 1408. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-23-1813-PDN