First report of Gibberella circinata in Italy
Since 2005, symptoms of pitch canker have been observed in Apulia (Southern Italy) on numerous trees of Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in urban parks and gardens. Affected trees showed withering of needles, twigs and branches and dieback leading to crown decline. Bleeding cankers with abundant resin were visible on twigs and branches. A species of Fusarium was consistently isolated from affected plant tissues. Studies (morphology, PCR, inoculation tests) were conducted and the fungus was identified as Fusarium circinatum (teleomorph Gibberella circinata – EPPO A1 List). There had been an unconfirmed report of G. circinata in the past, but this is the first published and confirmed record of pitch canker in Italy.
The situation of Gibberella circinata in Italy can be described as follows: Present, first reported in 2005 in Apulia on Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in urban parks and gardens.
Sources
Carlucci A, Colatruglio L, Frisullo S (2007) First report of pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in Apulia (Southern Italy). Plant Disease 91(12), p 1683.