Biscogniauxia rosacearum: addition to the EPPO Alert List
Why: Biscogniauxia rosacearum is a wood-decaying fungus affecting several fruit tree species. It was first described in 2016. It occurs in part of the EPPO region but has recently been extending its geographical and host ranges. Considering its potential impact across the EPPO region, the EPPO Panel on Phytosanitary Measures recommended that it is added to the Alert List.
Where: It is believed that B. rosacearum is native to Iran, but, since 2016, it has also been reported in Italy, Portugal and Spain, and more recently in Germany, Tunisia and South Africa. Because past B. rosacearum samples may have been misidentified as B. mediterranea, the actual distribution of B. rosacearum may be wider than currently reported.
EPPO region: Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia
Africa: Tunisia, South Africa
Asia: Iran
On which plants: B. rosacearum was first identified from Rosaceous fruit trees and has now been reported on a wider range of hosts, the full extent of which is not yet known due to potential misidentification of past samples as B. mediterranea. The host range of B. rosacearum includes the following species: Arbutus unedo, Cydonia oblonga, Eucalyptus sp., Myrtus communis, Olea europaea, O. europaea subsp. africana, Pinus sylvestris, Pistacia vera, Prunus domestica, P. dulcis, Pyrus communis, Vitis vinifera and many oak species (Quercus spp.).
Damage: Damage depends on the host plant affected but can include cankers (‘charcoal canker’), necrotic leaf spots, blight, defoliation, gummosis, yellowing, dieback and decline. Biscogniauxia species can be endophytes, and are known to be secondary pathogens causing symptoms when the host plant is stressed. However recent studies report significant damage to young and healthy trees.
Dissemination: The dispersal of B. rosacearum has not been extensively studied, but it is transmitted by wind or insects. It is not yet known what vectors may transmit B. rosacearum, but the pathogen has been reported in insect galleries of Coraebus fasciatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and in Platypus cylindrus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) specimens. In international trade, the fungus may be carried by host plants for planting.
Pathways: host plants for planting, wood of host plants?
Possible risks: Many host plants of B. rosacearum are economically and ecologically significant plants grown across the EPPO region. B. rosacearum has the potential for significant host damage, especially if host plants are already weakened by drought or infection by another pest. B. rosacearum has been reported in a range of climates including temperate and Mediterranean/subtropical climates, suggesting that it could establish in a large part of the EPPO region. More studies are needed to understand the biology and geographical distribution of B. rosacearum. Control strategies available are limited to pre-emptive measures designed to improve tree health. In areas where it is not widespread, infested host plants can be felled and burnt to limit further spread.
Sources
Bahmani Z, Abdollahzadeh J, Amini J, Evidente A (2021) Biscogniauxia rosacearum the charcoal canker agent as a pathogen associated with grapevine trunk diseases in Zagros region of Iran. Scientific reports 11(1), 14098 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93630-w
Bashiri S, Abdollahzadeh J, Evidente A (2022) Diagnosing and pathogenicity of Biscogniauxia species, the causal agents of oak charcoal canker and decline in Zagros forests of Iran. Journal of Plant Pathology 104(3), 1011-1025.
Ghaderi F, Rezaei R (2025) Biscogniauxia rosacearum as a pathogen associated with pistachio trees in Fars Province, Iran. Journal of Advances in Plant Protection. 2(2), 1-10 https://doi.org/10.22103/japp.2025.25520.1034
Julius Kuhn-Institut (2025) Express-PRA zu Biscogniauxia rosacearum. Accessed at: https://pra.eppo.int/pra/89d4da17-cdf8-4b36-b368-9eda13b84082
Khadraoui H, Hlaiem S, Yangui I, Hmissi S, Messaoud C, Ezzine O, Ben Jamâa ML (2025) Co-infection of Diaporthe foeniculina and Biscogniauxia rosacearum in Myrtus communis in Tunisia: influence of temperature and rainfall. European Journal of Plant Pathology 172, 143–156.
Pinna C, Linaldeddu BT, Deiana V, Maddau L, Montecchio L, Lentini A (2019) Plant pathogenic fungi associated with Coraebus florentinus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) attacks in declining oak forests. Forests 10(6), 488 https://doi.org/10.3390/f10060488
Masi M, Bashiri S, Cimmino A, Bahmani Z, Abdollahzadeh J, Evidente A (2021) Phytotoxins produced by two Biscogniauxia rosacearum strains, causal agents of grapevine trunk diseases, and charcoal canker of oak trees in Iran. Toxins 13(11), 812 https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13110812
Raimondo ML, Lops F, Carlucci A (2016) Charcoal canker of pear, plum, and quince trees caused by Biscogniauxia rosacearum sp. nov. in southern Italy. Plant Disease 100(9), 1813-1822 https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-15-1037-RE
Schrader G, Bien S, Douanla-Meli C, Hoppe B, Langer GJ (2025) Biscogniauxia rosacearum, first evidence in Germany and pest risk analysis for the potentially quarantine relevant charcoal canker fungus. Research Squarehttps://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7752155/v1 [article not peer-reviewed]
Spies CF, Mostert L, Carlucci A, Moyo P, Van Jaarsveld WJ, Du Plessis IL, Van Dyk M, Halleen F (2020) Dieback and decline pathogens of olive trees in South Africa. Persoonia-Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi 45(1), 196-220 https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2020.45.08
Sohrabi M, Mohammadi H, Armengol J, León M (2022) New report of Biscogniauxia rosacearum as a pathogen on almond trees in Iran. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 129(2), 411-417.
Yangui I, Hlaiem S, Khadraoui H, Messaoud C, Ben Jamaa ML, Ezzine O (2024) Biscogniauxia rosacearum: a newly identified pathogen of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) in North Africa. Forest Pathology 54(2), e12862.
Yangui I, Hlaiem S, Marouani A, Khadraoui H, Hmissi S, Messaoud C, Ben Jamâa ML, Ezzine O (2025) Eucalyptus species encountering the emergence of Biscogniauxia rosacearum as a novel threat in Tunisia. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration 10(5), 4053-4063.
Panel review date – Entry date 2026-05-