Author/Editor		Dreo, T; Zupančič, M; Demšar, T; Ravnikar, M
Title		First outbreaks of fire blight in Slovenia
Type		članek
Source		Acta Hortic
Vol. and No.		, št. 704
Publication year		2006
Volume		str. 37-9
Language		eng
Abstract		Slovenia is one of the latest European countries to have reported fire blight. Laboratory tests are included in the systematic survey coordinated by the Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia since 1998. The first sporadic outbreaks of fire blight in 2001 and 2002 were followed by strict measures and no further symptoms or positive samples were found during those years. A larger outbreak took place in 2003 when the weather conditions were particularly favourable for development of the disease. The areas around the foci of infection from 2001 and 2002 were the first found to be infected, followed by foci in other areas. Up to November 2003, 441 samples showing more or less typical fire blight symptoms were tested, and 44.2% were found to be positive for Erwinia amylovora (Burrill 1882) Winslow et al. 1920 emend. Hauben et al. 1998. The largest proportion of positive samples was found from Cotoneaster Ehrh. and Cydonia oblonga Mill., with 61.3% and 59.2% respectively; for pear (Pyrus communis L.) and apple (Males domestica Borkh.) the proportions were 41.8 and 51.6% respectively. The proportion of positive samples was low for host plants grown in the wild. Erwinia amylovora is present in some areas of Slovenia at low levels and is subject to official control. Up to the end of 2003, major fruit producing areas in the eastern parts were not affected.
Descriptors		FRUIT PLANT DISEASES ERWINIA POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION SLOVENIA