First report of Phytophthora ramorum in Greece
In April 2010, during a survey conducted in a nursery in Fthiotis prefecture (Central Greece), symptoms of stem necrosis and leaf lesions were observed on 2 container plants of Rhododendron (hybrid ‘Kate Watere’). These diseased plants were part of a lot which had originally been imported from Belgium. A Phytophthora species, presenting the typical morphological characters of P. ramorum could be isolated from symptomatic leaves. While completing the molecular identification of the pathogen, the nursery was inspected again 6 weeks after the initial discovery. It could be observed that the disease had spread to 5 neighbouring plants (within the same nursery block), and that one of the originally infected plants had died. As soon as the identity of the pathogen was confirmed to be P. ramorum, eradication measures were applied in the nursery. However, it is noted that it was not possible to trace all plants belonging to this infected lot, and that it cannot be excluded that some of them have been sold to other areas of Greece. This is the first time that P. ramorum is reported from Greece.
The situation of Phytophthora ramorum in Greece can be described as follows: Present, found in 1 nursery on Rhododendron, under eradication.
Sources
Tsopelas P, Paplomatas E, Tjamos SE, Soulioti N, Elena K (2011) First report of Phytophthora ramorum on Rhododendron in Greece. Plant Disease 95(2), p 223.