Hellenic Plant Protection Journal
1:
1-25, 2008
REVIEW ARTICLE
New plant pathogens reported in Greece, 1990-2007
K. Elena
1
, A.S. Alivizatos
1
and C. Varveri
1
Summary
A summary of new plant pathogen records in Greece during the period 1990-2007 is
presented based on data published in national and international literature. Plant pathogenic fun-
gi, bacteria, viruses and viroids are considered.
A total of 47 new plant pathogenic fungi have been reported, most of which cause damaging
plant diseases in Greece and only few seem to have a negligible effect. The new pathogens were
found on a variety of host plants, annual or perennial, cultivated or forest species, vegetables or
ornamentals etc. Based on available information up to now, the introduction of
Ceratocystis pla-
tani,
the young-grapevine decline and esca disease pathogens and the new vascular wilts caused
by
Fusarium oxysporum
are among the most alarming cases. Additionally, Alternaria brown spot
on Minneola mandarins in Northwestern Greece and
Phytophthora boehmeriae
in irrigated cotton
crops create severe problems.
Five new records of plant pathogenic bacteria have been reported. All five pathogens were found
on horticultural crops and the disease symptoms caused to them were described. The pathogens
which were detected and identified were
Pantoea ananas
on watermelon,
Pseudomonas syringae
pv.
apii
on celery,
Pseudomonas syringae
pv.
porri
on leek,
Χanthomonas campestris
pv.
vitians
on
lettuce and
Χanthomonas cynarae
on artichoke. The pathogens, although not yet widespread in
the country, may have a serious economic impact since they can cause damage by reducing the
market value or rendering harvest of the affected crops unmarketable.
Fifty-two new viruses and viroids have been reported and characterized. Of these, nine viruses
represent the most serious threat, since they are transmitted by insect vectors able to dissemi-
nate them further and they affect important crops such as citrus, tomato, cucumber and potato.
These viruses are:
Citrus tristeza virus
(CTV),
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus
(TYLCV),
Tomato yellow leaf
curl Sardinia virus
(TYLCSV),
Tomato chlorosis virus
(ToCV),
Tomato infectious chlorosis virus
(TICV),
Beet pseudo-yellows virus
(BPYV),
Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus
(CYSDV),
Cucumber aphid
borne yellows virus
(CABYV) and
Potato virus Y
NTN
(PVY
NTN
). Eradication, application of strict quaran-
tine procedures and use of virus-free propagation material are some of the most important meas-
ures for their control. Almost half of these reports derived from survey work aiming at estimating
the sanitary situation of vegetatively propagated crops as a first step towards the production of
healthy propagation material. Molecular methods developed during last years have greatly con-
tributed to the identification and characterization of the viruses and viroids reported.
1
Laboratories of Mycology, Bacteriology and Virology,
respectively, Department of Phytopathology, Benaki
Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta str., GR-145 61
Kifissia (Athens), Greece
tation of non-native plant pathogens, pests
and weeds into a country has been great-
ly facilitated by the icreasing free trade
of plants, plant propagation material and
plant products and the improving long-dis-
tance transport possibilities. In addition,
new records often arise from pre-existing
Introduction
New records following accidental impor-
1,2 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,...60