First record of Mycosphaerella dearnessii in the Czech Republic
The NPPO of the Czech Republic recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first occurrence of Mycosphaerella dearnessii (anamorph Lecanosticta acicola – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. In 2007, M. dearnessii was detected by Dr L. Jankovsky (Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno) on pine trees (Pinus uncinata subsp. uliginosa) growing in a preserved bog forest located in the South-Bohemian region. Affected trees showed needle blight symptoms including heavy defoliation. The identity of the fungus was confirmed in August 2008 on the basis of morphology and PCR assays. As the disease was found in a National Nature Reserve, no official measures were taken but surveys will continue in this area.
The pest status of Mycosphaerella dearnessii in the Czech Republic is officially declared as: Present, found in one locality.
Sources
NPPO of Czech Republic, 2008-08.