Phytophthora ramorum found again in the Czech Republic
The NPPO of the Czech Republic recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of another finding of Phytophthora ramorum (EPPO A2 List) on its territory. P. ramorum has occasionally been reported in the Czech Republic, in relation with imports of ornamental shrubs from other EU countries, but in all cases eradication measures have been applied. During an official specific survey for P. ramorum, suspicious symptoms were observed in September 2015 on several Rhododendron plants in one garden centre located in the municipality of Dlouhá Loučka (Olomouc district, Olomouc region). Laboratory tests (PCR with specific primers) confirmed the identity of P. ramorum. Diseased plants belonged to a consignment that had been delivered in 2014 from Poland. The whole lot (11 plants of evergreen Rhododendron spp.) were showing symptoms of leaf and twig blight. As these plants had been kept in the garden centre for about one year before the symptoms were detected upon inspection, the source of this infection remains unclear. However, it is noted that P. ramorum has not been found in this garden centre or in its vicinity before. In accordance with the Commission Decision 2002/757/EC, the 11 infected Rhododendron spp. plants, as well as 23 plants of deciduous Rhododendron spp. (azaleas) located within a radius of 2 m (or more) have been destroyed. Surveys will continue in the outdoor part of the garden centre (approximately 800 m²) on potentially susceptible host plants.
The official pest status of Phytophthora ramorum in the Czech Republic is officially declared as: Transient: actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Czech Republic (2016-08).