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Pest categorisation of Diplodia bulgarica

EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH) et al. EFSA J. .

Abstract

The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Diplodia bulgarica, a clearly defined plant pathogenic fungus of the family Botryosphaeriaceae. The pathogen affects Malus domestica, M. sylvestris and Pyrus communis causing various symptoms such as canker, twig blight, gummosis, pre- and post-harvest fruit rot, dieback and tree decline. The pathogen is present in Asia (India, Iran, Türkiye) and in non-EU Europe (Serbia). Concerning the EU, the pathogen is present in Bulgaria and widespread in Germany. There is a key uncertainty on the geographical distribution of D. bulgarica worldwide and in the EU, because in the past, when molecular tools were not available, the pathogen might have been misidentified as other Diplodia species (e.g. D. intermedia, D. malorum, D. mutila, D. seriata) or other members of the Botryosphaeriaceae family affecting apple and pear based only on morphology and pathogenicity tests. Diplodia bulgarica is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Plants for planting, other than seeds, fresh fruits, and bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other plant-growing media carrying plant debris are the main pathways for the further entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors are favourable for the further establishment of the pathogen in the EU. In the areas of its present distribution, including Germany, the pathogen has a direct impact on cultivated hosts. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. Diplodia bulgarica satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Keywords: Malus spp. Pyrus communis; black canker of apple and pear; pest risk; plant health; plant pest; quarantine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diplodia bulgarica. (a) Culture growing on PDA; (b) pycnidia developing on pine needles in culture; (c) pycnidium on pine needle exuding conidia; (d–g) conidiogenous cells with developing conidia; (h) brown, aseptate conidia; (i) brown aseptate conidia and a two‐celled conidium; (j, k) conidium in two levels of focus showing finely verruculose inner surface of the conidium wall. Scale bars: b = 500 μm; c = 200 μm; d–i = 10 μm; j, k = 5 μm (from Phillips et al., 2012)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Global distribution of Diplodia bulgarica [Data Source: CABI,  (last accessed on 15 March 2023) and other literature sources]
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of nine Köppen–Geiger climate types, i.e. Bsh, Bsk, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc, Csa, Csb, Dfb and Dfc that occur in the EU and in third countries where Diplodia bulgarica has been reported. The legend shows the list of Köppen–Geiger climates (Kottek et al., 2006). Yellow dots indicate point locations where D. bulgarica was reported
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