Suchergebnisse

Spain is the largest European Union exporter of entire pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) for fresh consumption. The most important cultivar in the country is 'Mollar de Elche' (syn.: 'Mollar'), an autochthonous cultivar of yellowish rind and excellent sensory properties cultivated mainly in Alacant province (València region, eastern Spain). However, foreign intense red cultivars such as 'Wonderful', 'Acco' or 'Smith' are increasingly being planted in northern areas in the region (València and Castelló provinces) due to their good adaptability and good acceptation in EU markets, especially for the industries of juices and minimally processed arils. Research work has been conducted and is still in progress to identify and characterize fungal pathogens causing fruit postharvest disease in local environmental conditions. 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranates from different orchards were used in different seasons to assess both latent and wound fungal pathogens causing decay after harvest. In addition, disease was also assessed on fruit packed and stored in commercial conditions. In red cultivars, postharvest symptoms consisting of internal black rot of arils and membranes were increasingly observed in the last seasons. Affected fruit with light to moderate internal lesions are very difficult to sort at harvest and during packaging, which is very detrimental for consolidation of export markets. In all cases, fungi from symptomatic fruit were isolated, purified and identified by means of macroscopic and microscopic observation and molecular techniques. Pathogenicity (Koch's postulates) and disease development at ambient and low temperatures were tested with pomegranates artificially inoculated with the fungi. Main fungi causing latent and wound infections on 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranates were Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) and Penicillium spp. (blue/green mold), respectively. These pathogens were also the most frequently found on symptomatic cold-stored pomegranates. Other relatively frequent pathogens on fruit stored at 20 and 5°C were Aspergillus niger (black rot) and Pilidiella granati (syn.: Coniella granati; dry rot), respectively. In red cultivars, heart rot was caused by Alternaria alternata. This disease was not observed on 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranates.

The EU plant health legislation enforces the implementation of intensive surveillance programs for Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) as a quarantine pathogen (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1201). After a Xf outbreak, delimiting surveys must be implemented to delineate the extent of the pathogen and to execute disease control. The surveillance efficacy can be enhanced by increasing inspection and sampling intensities. Budget constraints often limit survey efforts, thus making it necessary the optimization of surveillance strategies. A sequential adaptive delimiting survey involving a three-phase and a two-phase design with increasing spatial resolution was simulated for the Xf demarcated area in Alicante, Spain. Based on the official survey data of 2018, inspection and sampling intensities were estimated using an optimization algorithm specified under the sequential adaptive delimiting strategy. The sampling intensity thresholds estimated were evaluated by quantifying their effect on the estimation of Xf incidence. This strategy made it possible to sequence inspection and sampling considering increasing spatial resolutions, and to adapt the inspection and sampling intensities according to the information obtained in the previous, coarser, spatial resolution. Our results show that sequencing and adapting inspection and sampling to increasing spatial resolutions allows accurate delimitation of the infested zone while reducing the overall survey efforts, thus improving the efficiency of the surveillance program. From a methodological perspective, our approach provides new insights into alternative delimiting designs and new reference sampling intensity values. Pre-print published at: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.978668v2 ; ES; PPT; lazaro_ele@gva.es

The EU plant health legislation enforces the implementation of intensive surveillance programs for quarantine pests. After an outbreak, surveys are implemented to delimit the extent of the infested zone and to manage disease control. Surveillance in agricultural and natural environments can be enhanced by increasing the survey efforts. Budget constraints often limit inspection and sampling intensities, thus making it necessary to adapt and optimize surveillance strategies. A sequential adaptive delimiting survey involving a three-phase and a two-phase design with increasing spatial resolution was developed and implemented for the Xylella fastidiosa demarcated area in Alicante, Spain. Inspection and sampling intensities were optimized using simulation-based methods. Sampling intensity thresholds were evaluated by quantifying their effect on the estimation of X. fastidiosa incidence. This strategy made it possible to sequence inspection and sampling taking into account increasing spatial resolutions, and to adapt the inspection and sampling intensities according to the information obtained in the previous, coarser, spatial resolution. The proposed strategy was able to efficiently delimit the extent of Xylella fastidiosa, while improving on the efficiency and maintaining the efficacy of the official survey campaign. From a methodological perspective, our approach provides new insights into alternative delimiting designs and new reference sampling intensity values

[EN] Two hundred and twenty-fiveDiaportheisolates were collected from 2005 to 2019 in almond orchards showing twig cankers and shoot blight symptoms in five different regions across Spain. Multilocus DNA sequence analysis with five loci (ITS,tub,tef-1 alpha,calandhis), allowed the identification of four knownDiaporthespecies, namely:D. amygdali,D. eres,D. foeniculinaandD. phaseolorum. Moreover, a novel phylogenetic species,D. mediterranea, was described.Diaportheamygdaliwas the most prevalent species, due to the largest number of isolates (85.3%) obtained from all sampled regions. The second most frequent species wasD. foeniculina(10.2%), followed byD. mediterranea(3.6%),D.eresandD. phaseolorum, each with only one isolate. Pathogenicity tests were performed using one-year-old almond twigs cv. Vayro and representative isolates of the different species. Except forD. foeniculinaandD. phaseolorum, allDiaporthespecies were able to cause lesions significantly different from those developed on the uninoculated controls.Diaporthe mediterraneacaused the most severe symptoms. These results confirmD. amygdalias a key pathogen of almonds in Spain. Moreover, the new species,D. mediterranea, should also be considered as a potential important causal agent of twig cankers and shoot blight on this crop. ; Research funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), grants RTA2017-00009-C04-01, -02, -03 and -04 and with matching funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). G. Elena and C. Agusti-Brisach were supported by the Spanish post-doctoral grants "Juan de la Cierva-Formacion" and "Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion", respectively. J. Luque and X. Miarnau were partially supported by the CERCA program, Generalitat de Catalunya. D. Gramaje was supported by the Ramon y Cajal program, Spanish Government (RYC-2017-23098). ; León Santana, M.; Berbegal Martinez, M.; Rodríguez-Reina, JM.; Elena, G.; Abad Campos, P.; Ramón-Albalat, A.; Olmo, D. (2020). Identification and ...

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Exomala orientalis (Coleoptera: Rutelidae) (Oriental beetle) for the EU. Larvae feed on the roots of a variety of hosts including most grasses and many vegetable crops. Maize, pineapples, sugarcane are among the main host plants. Larvae are particularly damaging to turfgrass and golf courses. The adults feed on flowers and other soft plant tissues (e.g. Alcea rosea, Dahlia, Iris, Phlox and Rosa). Eggs are laid in the soil. Larvae feed on host roots and overwinter in the soil. Adults emerge from pupae in the soil in May-June and are present for about 2 months. E. orientalis usually completes its life cycle in 1 year although individuals can spend two winters as larvae. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (Annex IIA) regulates E. orientalis. The legislation also regulates the import of soil attached to plants for planting from third countries; therefore, entry of E. orientalis eggs, larvae and pupae is prevented. E. orientalis is native to Japan or the Philippine islands. It is also found in East Asia and India, Hawaii and northeastern USA. It is assumed to have reached USA via infested nursery stock. Plants for planting (excluding seeds) and cut flowers provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. E. orientalis has been intercepted only once in the EU, on Ilex crenata bonsai. Climatic conditions and the availability of host plants provide conditions to support establishment in the EU. Impacts on maize, grassland and turfgrass would be possible. There is uncertainty on the extent of the impact on host plants which are widely commercially grown (e.g. maize) Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. E. orientalis satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. Of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union regulated non-quarantine pest, E. orientalis does not meet the criterion of occurring in the EU.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of non-EU Acleris spp. Acleris is a welldefined insect genus in the family Tortricidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Species can be identified using taxonomic keys based on adult morphology and genitalia. The genus includes 261 species attacking conifers and non-conifer plants in many areas in the world, among which 40 species are present in the EU. The non-EU species are collectively listed in Annex IAI of Council Directive 2000/29/EC as Acleris spp. (non-European). Some species are important defoliators in North America, mainly on conifers but also on several broadleaf trees. Females lay eggs on the leaves or on the bark. The larvae bind together with silk the leaves upon which they feed. Pupation occurs in leaves attached with silk or in the soil. Some species are univoltine; others are bivoltine or multivoltine. Flight capacity is not documented, but outbreak expansion suggests that the adults can probably fly long distances. The main pathways for entry are host plants for planting with or without soil, cut branches, fruits of host plants (including cones), round wood with bark and bark. The presence of host plants and suitable EU climate would allow the establishment of the known non-EU harmful species. In the literature, nine non-EU Acleris species are reported as pests on various host plants, namely A. gloverana, A. variana, A. minuta, A. nishidai, A. issikii, A. semipurpurana, A. robinsoniana, A. senescens and A. nivisellana. These non-EU Acleris spp. satisfy all the criteria to be considered as Union quarantine pests. Concerning the other 212 non-EU Acleris species, there is scarce information on host plants, pests status and climatic suitability. Measures are in place to prevent the introduction of non-EU Acleris spp. through the pathways described in the document. As non-EU Acleris spp. are not present in the EU and plants for planting are not the major pathway for spread, non-EU Acleris spp. do not meet the criteria to be considered as regulated non-quarantine pests.

The European Commission requested EFSA to conduct a pest categorisation of Grapholita prunivora (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an oligophagous moth whose larvae feed mostly on leaves and fruit of different Rosaceae including cultivated apples, plums, cherries and pecans. It overwinters in soil and bark crevices of its host plants. G. prunivora has reliable identification methods, both for adults and immature stages. It occurs in North America, where it can impact pome and stone fruit production, especially when broad spectrum insecticides targeting pome and stone fruit key pests are substituted by more selective crop protection methods (i.e. mating disruption, biological control). G. prunivora is regulated in the EU by EU Directive 2000/29/EC where it is listed in Annex IIAI using the synonym Enarmonia prunivora. Plants for planting, fruit, cut branches, and bark are potential pathways. Most, but not all hosts are regulated, e.g. pecan (Carya sp.). There are no records of interception of this species on Europhyt. Biotic and abiotic conditions are conducive for establishment and spread of G. prunivora in the EU. Therefore, were G. prunivora to establish, impact on pome and stone fruit production could be expected. Considering the criteria within the remit of EFSA to assess its regulatory plant health status, G. prunivora meets with no uncertainties the criteria for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest (it is absent from the EU, potential pathways exist, and its establishment would cause an economic impact). Given that G. prunivora is not known to occur in the EU, it fails to meet this criterion required for regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) status.