First report of Phytophthora ramorum in Slovenia
During an official survey for Phytophthora ramorum (EPPO Alert List) in Slovenia in 2003, following EU emergency phytosanitary measures, plants of Viburnum and Rhododendron spp. were inspected at nurseries, garden centres, parks and gardens. In July, symptoms in container-grown plants of R. catawbiense cv. Grandiflorum and V. farreri in two garden centres and Viburnum x bodnantense in a nursery were observed. Rhododendron plants showed twig dieback and leaf blight. On both Viburnum species, symptoms of wilting and discoloration at the stem base were observed. The pathogen was isolated on a semi-selective medium (P5 ARP) and identified on the basis of morphological and cultural characters as P. ramorum. For confirmation of the identity, PCR was used. The infected plants and all susceptible plants within a 2 m radius were destroyed by incineration. Other susceptible host plants were re-inspected. This is the first report of Phytophthora ramorum in Slovenia.
The status of Phytophthora ramorum in Slovenia is declared as follows: Present, found in 2003 on Viburnum and Rhododendron species, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Slovenia, 2003-11