Update on the situation of Ceratocystis platani in France
In France, outbreaks of Ceratocystis platani (EPPO A2 List) have been reported across southern regions (Aquitaine, Corse, Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes) since the 1940s and Pays-de-la-Loire and Ile-de-France in 2019 (EPPO RS 2019/188). In France, a number of demarcated areas have been defined in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur where measures are aimed at containment. In the rest of the territory, eradication measures are applied according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1629.
In 2007, C. platani was considered to be eradicated from Corse. The NPPO of France recently detected a new occurrence of Ceratocystis platani in two municipalities in Corse (Haute-Corse department) on one plane tree (Platanus sp.) in June 2024 and on another in September 2024. Demarcated areas have been established. This includes an infected zone of a radius of 35m and a buffer zone that encompasses each municipality. 23 plane trees, including the two infected trees, will be uprooted.
In both municipalities, plantation of plane trees in the infected zones is forbidden. Official annual surveillance on plane trees in the buffer zone will be carried out.
C. platani has also been detected in June 2022 in Centre-Val de Loire resulting in an increase in the size of the infected zone and on a plane tree in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in February 2021 where a new demarcated area has been established. Scattered outbreaks have also been reported across demarcated areas within Ile-de-France and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Containment measures will be applied.
The pest status of Ceratocystis platani is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under containment, in case eradication is impossible.
Sources
NPPO of France (2025-01, 2025-02).
Arrêté du 31 janvier 2025 relatif à la lutte contre Ceratocystis platani (CERAFP) agent pathogène du chancre coloré du platane. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2025/1/31/AGRG2237643A/jo/texte
EU (2022) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1629 of 21 September 2022 establishing measures for the containment of Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr. within certain demarcated areas (OJ L 245, 14, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/1629/oj