Update on the situation of Elsinoë fawcettii in the Azores (Portugal)
Elsinoë fawcettii (EU Annexes) was first detected on Citrus sp. in orchards in the Azores in July 2021 on the island of São Miguel in the counties of Lagoa and Ponta Delgada (EPPO RS 2020/021) before spreading to five new parishes across the counties of Lagoa, Nordeste, Povoação and Ribeira Grande on São Miguel island (EPPO RS 2023/147). Later, E. fawcettii was detected in Horta county on Faial island in March 2023 and in the parishes of Almagreira and Santo Espirito on Santa Maria island in October 2022 (EPPO RS 2023/147).
As a result of the official monitoring programme, new outbreaks of E. fawcettii have been found on
- Santa Maria island:
Six Citrus species, including Citrus x limon, Citrus x aurantium var. sinensis and Citrus reticulata, were found to be infected in two small orchards and one private garden in the parishes of Santo Espirito and São Pedro. This is the first finding in the parish of São Pedro. The new outbreak in Santo Espirito parish increases the size of the infested and demarcated areas. This brings the total number of demarcated areas for E. fawcettii on Santa Maria to three.
- Faial island:
New outbreaks were also reported in Horta county on Faial island with findings in 14 samples of Citrus species, including C. limon, C. x limonia and C. x aurantium var. deliciosa, resulting in the establishment of 6 new demarcated areas and the enlargement of 4 demarcated areas in this county.
Phytosanitary measures have been applied to eradicate the pest including destruction of infected plant material, chemical treatments and restrictions on the movement of Citrus plants.
The pest status of Elsinoë fawcettii in Portugal is officially declared as: Present, under eradication, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Portugal (2025-06).