First report of Cryphonectria carpinicola in Azerbaijan
Cryphonectria carpinicola (EPPO Alert List) is first reported from Azerbaijan. C. carpinicola was reported on chestnut (Castanea sativa) trees in Çinarlı village (Gakh district) from a sample collected in 2011 and in Yuxarı Tala (Zaqatala district) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) in Yuxarı Tala (Zaqatala district) during surveys in 2023 and Qələdüz village (Guba district) during surveys in 2025. This is the first report of the fungus on European chestnut. The identity of the fungus was confirmed by molecular tests. The only reported symptoms were yellow-orange stromata on tree bark.
Cornejo et al. (2026) consider that C. carpinicola is a secondary pathogen on C. betulus and C. sativa as inoculation experiments on chestnut and hornbeam seedlings only produced small lesions and did not result in tree death.
The situation of Cryphonectria carpinicola in Azerbaijan can be described as: Present, restricted distribution.
Sources
Cornejo C, Aghayeva D, Beenken L (2026) The tree‐parasitic fungus Cryphonectria carpinicola discovered on European chestnut and European hornbeam in Azerbaijan. EPPO Bulletin (early view) https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.70069