FIRST DETECTION OF THE CHESTNUT BLIGHT FUNGUS ON SESSILE OAK IN UKRAINE

Cryphonectria parasitica is a severe invasive pathogen of both European sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and American chestnut (C. dentate). The pathogen spread throughout North America and Europe wherever chestnuts are grown.
In addition to sweet chestnut, oak species (Quercus spp.) also are affected by the fungus.
Bark samples were collected on 23 Apr. 2011 from the areas of Bobovyshche, Serednje and Rostovjatica in Ukraine.
The mortality rate of infected chestnut trees exceeded 90%. Damage that was thought to be caused by C. parasitica also was detected on sessile oak (Quercus petraea) growing among sweet chestnut trees near Bobovyshche.
Bark samples were collected from sessile oak; fungal isolates from oak bark samples were analysed using morphological and biological tests at the University of Debrecen, Institute of Plant Protection to confirm infection by C. parasitica. Results indicate that the fungus isolated from sessile oak cankers was C. parasitica. This is the first reported detection of the blight fungus on sessile oak in the sub-Carpathian region of the Ukraine.

V International Chestnut Symposium

L. Radócz, G. Görcsös, G. Tarcali, L. Irinyi, K. Egyed, V. Krochko

Cryphonectria parasitica, Quercus petraea, ITS fragment

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1019.29