New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List
By searching through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included (or formerly included) on the EPPO Alert List, and indicated in bold the situation of the pest concerned using the terms of ISPM 8.
- New records
Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae, EPPO A1 List), one of the vectors of huanglongbing, is first reported from Benin. A survey was conducted in December 2021 in five of the 12 departments of Benin. D. citri was only observed on residential citrus trees in Southern Benin, but not in residential areas or commercial groves in the central and northern parts of the country. The sampled specimens tested negative for ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’, ‘Ca. Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Sétamou et al., 2023).
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical race 4 is first reported from Venezuela in the states of Aragua, Carobobo and Cojedes. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed in January 2023. Emergency measures are being taken to limit its spread (IPPC, 2023).
The pest status of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Venezuela is officially declared as: Present: not widely distributed and under official control.
Citrus black spot caused by the fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa (EPPO A1 List) is first reported from Benin. The presence of a disease causing spots on orange fruits (Citrus sinensis) has been observed for a decade. In July 2021, 15 orchards in four different districts were randomly selected and samples taken. Between 50 to 100 % of trees were affected by the disease. The fungus isolated from the diseased orange fruits was identified as P. citricarpa. Management methods and strategies are being developed to control and limit the spread of the disease in the country (Toessi et al., 2023).
Neopestalotiopsis rosae causing leaf spot and crown rot of strawberry was first reported in Türkiye in Mersin province (Erdurmuş et al., 2022).
In a review article, Chaerani (2022) lists the first reports of the following nematodes in Indonesia: Aphelenchoides fragariae (EU Annexes), Ditylenchus dipsaci (EPPO A2 List), Heterodera zeae (formerly EPPO Alert List), and Meloidogyne fallax (EPPO A2 List).
Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) is first reported from Ghana causing damage on ridged gourd (Luffa acutangula), Solanum aethiopicum, and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (Fening et al., 2022)
In Türkiye, the ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, formerly EPPO Alert List) was found for the first time in 2021 in Istanbul on Lonicera ligustrina var. yunnanensis (syn. Lonicera pileata var. yunnanensis). Surveys were conducted in 2022 in parks and gardens of Istanbul on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, and the insect was found in several other plant species: Cercis siliquastrum, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica f. pendula, Laurus nobilis, Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus ilex (Hızal et al., 2023).
- Detailed records
In Russia, Trichoferus campestris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) has been detected for the first time in the Republic of Komi (Northern European Russia). In August 2021, an adult female specimen was collected during a survey conducted in tree plantations in the city of Syktyvkar. It is noted that a warehouse of imported fruit and vegetables with packing material (wooden boxes, pallets) was located 600 m away from the finding site. The identity of the insect has been confirmed by the All-Russian Center for Plant Quarantine (VNIIKR). Subsequent inspection of trees near the finding site did not detect any further specimens or signs of infestation. The establishment of T. campestris in the Republic of Komi remains to be confirmed (Lukin et al., 2022).
In India Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was first reported in 2015 in Karnakata on papaya (Carica papaya). It is now also reported in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. It causes severe damage on chilli (Capsicum annuum) and mango (Mangifera indica) as well as on a number of ornamentals (Shashank et al., 2022; Timmanna et al., 2023).
- Eradication
In Germany isolated outbreaks of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettia (formerly EPPO Alert List) occurred in 2016 and 2018 and were eradicated (EPPO RS 2017/014, 2019/104). Another outbreak was detected on Euphorbia pulcherrima in September 2021 in Baden-Württemberg. Trace-back investigations showed that the young plants originated in Ethiopia. However, no information could be found to confirm that Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettiae is present in Africa and therefore the origin of the outbreak remains unknown. The symptomatic plants were destroyed on a voluntary basis by the grower and further inspections did not detect the bacterium.
The pest status of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettia in Germany is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
In Germany Phytophthora chrysanthemi was found in a production site of Chrysanthemum cut flowers in Hesse in 2015 (EPPO RS 2017/021). The infested plants were destroyed, and disinfection measures applied in the production site. Since then, the operator has stopped producing Chrysanthemum and switched to the production of culinary herbs. Therefore, the outbreak is considered eradicated. No other cases of P. chrysanthemi have occurred in Germany.
The pest status of Phytophthora chrysanthemi in Germany is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
In Germany Sirococcus tsugae (formerly EPPO Alert List) was reported in 2014 on 2 trees of Cedrus atlantica in Niedersachsen (EPPO RS 2015/076). The trees were destroyed in 2014 and there are no indications that S. tsugae is still present in Niedersachsen. Furthermore, there have been no inquiries from nurseries, private individuals, or public green spaces that might indicate problems with S. tsugae.
The pest status of Sirococcus tsugae in Germany is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
In Denmark, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A2 List) was first found on one Begonia sp. plant in a nursery in October 2022. Eradication measures were applied (EPPO RS 2022/238) and no further infestation was detected. The outbreak is now considered eradicated (NPPO of Denmark, 2023).
The pest status of Scirtothrips dorsalis in Denmark is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
- Host plants
In Japan, Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (Tospovirus, CSNV – EPPO A1 List) was detected in cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), cineraria (Senecio cruentus), tuberous begonia (Begonia tuberhybrida), zinnia (Zinnia elegans), and globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) plants grown in a commercial glasshouse in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Infected plants showed chlorotic and necrotic spots on leaves and stems, followed by wilting (Asano et al., 2022).
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is first recorded as a host plant for the root knot nematode Meloidogyne chitwoodi (EPPO A2 List) based on pot and field experiments (Taning et al., 2022).
In New Zealand, Phytophthora pluvialis (EPPO Alert List) was identified as causing needle lesions on stone pine (Pinus pinea) in Nelson (South Island) (McLay et al., 2023)
Sources
Asano S, Yoshida K, Hirayama Y (2022) First detection of chrysanthemum stem necrosis orthotospovirus in cyclamen, cineraria, tuberous begonia, zinnia, and globe amaranth. Journal of Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01264-2
Chaerani C (2022) Plant parasitic nematodes in agricultural ecosystem of Indonesia. Jurnal Perlindungan Tanaman Indonesia 26(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.22146/jpti.71037
Erdurmuş D, Palacıoğlu G, Erdurmuş G, Bayraktar H (2022) First report of Neopestalotiopsis rosae causing leaf spot and crown rot of strawberry in Turkey. Journal of Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01218-8
Fening KO, Amouzou K, Hevi W, Forchibe EE, Billah MK, Wamonje FO (2022) First report and population dynamics of the tobacco thrips, Thrips parvispinus (Karny)(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on ridged gourd, Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxy in selected export fields in southern Ghana. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS) 123(2), 235-245.
Hızal E, Acer S, Altunışık S (2023) First record of the invasive alien species Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Turkey. BioInvasions Records 12 (in press), 10 pp.
IPPC website. Official Pest Reports- Venezuela (2023-01-25): Phytosanitary Emergency for presence of Foc R4. https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/pestreports/2023/01/phytosanitary-emergency-for-presence-of-foc-r4t/
Lukin AV, Nikitsky NB, Ishkaeva AF (2022) [First record of the longhorn beetle Trichoferus campestris (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of the North-East part of European Russia]. Byulleten MOIP Otdel Biologicheskii 127(4), 17-22 (in Russian).
McLay E, Rogan B, Dobbie K (2023) First report of Phytophthora pluvialis causing needle lesions on Pinus pinea in New Zealand. New Disease Reports 47(1), e12150. https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.12150
NPPO of Germany (2023-01).
Sétamou M, Soto YL, Tachin M, Alabi OJ (2023) Report on the first detection of Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in the Republic of Benin, West Africa. Scientific Reports 13(1), 801. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28030-3
Shashank P, Kereyagalahalli Mallaiah K, Bedar J (2022) Diagnosis and potential invasion risk of Thrips parvispinus under current and future climate change scenarios. PeerJ 10, e13868 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13868
Taning LM, Chann L, Fleerakkers S, Cap N, Formesyn E, Tirry L, Wesemael WM (2022) Host plant status and damage threshold of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) for the temperate root-knot nematode Meloidogyne chitwoodi. Nematology 25(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685411-bja10207
Timmanna H, Prashantha C, Shashank PR, Nigam VD, Birla N (2023) Occurrence and spread of invasive thrips Thrips parvispinus (Karny) in north India. Indian Journal of Entomology, e22965. https://doi.org/10.55446/IJE.2022.987
Toessi HG, Amari GL, Sikirou R, Kone D (2023) First report of citrus black spot disease caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa in Benin. New Disease Reports 47(1), e12145. https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.12145