Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

An EU funded project for the benefit of the whole EPPO region

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NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Aphelenchoides besseyi (APLOBE)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

Name as submitted in the project specification (if different to the preferred name):
 

Pest category:
 
Nematoda


1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:

Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
 
Yes

Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
 
Yes

Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
 
  • Not relevant: Ornamental sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Not relevant

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Ornamental sector
2 – Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
 
Bulgaria (1993); Hungary (1992); Italy (2008)

Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
Data of the presence of this pest on the EU territory are available in EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/). This pest is a candidate for the RNQP status according to the IIA2AWG

HOST PLANT N°1: Fragaria (1FRAG) for the Ornamental sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
IIA2AWG

Plants for planting:
 
Plants intended for planting, other than seeds


3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Evaluation continues

 
Justification (if necessary):
 
Fragaria x ananassa is covered by EPPO PM 4/11 Standard. There are various varieties of ornamental strawberry grown, of different species such as F. chiloensis or F. vesca, with different flower colours or foliage. Fragaria chiloensis, F. vesca and F. x ananassa (cultivated strawberry) are all minor hosts according to the EPPO Global Database. Ornamental strawberry may be propagated vegetatively (e.g. cv. Lipstick) or by seed (alpine strawberry F. vesca).

4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

 
Justification:
 
No references could be found to the susceptibility or resistance of ornamental strawberry to infestation by A. besseyi, as compared to the variation in normal strawberry cultivars, so it is concluded they would react to the pest in a similar way. Growing media/soil adhering to roots, is also a pathway.
It is concluded plants for planting are a pathway, and can be considered a significant pathway compared to others.

5 - Economic impact:

Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
 
?

Justification:
 
No specific documented references could be found for impacts on ornamental strawberry, as distinct from F. x ananassa - cultivated strawberry, so it is concluded they may react to the pest in a similar way (This impact for strawberry is estimated as minor in the EU due to unsuitable climatic conditions according to the Italian PRA, Jan 2015 (EU COM, 2016), but it is important in southern USA (CABI 2016)).

What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
 
Minor

Is the economic impact due to the presence of the pest on the named host plant for planting, acceptable to the propagation and end user sectors concerned?
 
No

Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 
Specific evidence cannot be found of an impact on ornamental strawberries. Impacts on strawberries for fruit production in Europe seems to be low but greater in other parts of the world. It is difficult to disentangle the impact of A. besseyi and A. fragariae.

6 - Are there feasible and effective measures available to prevent the presence of the pest on the plants for planting at an incidence above a certain threshold (including zero) to avoid an unacceptable economic impact as regards the relevant host plants?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification:
 

7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 
Data on ornamental fragariae is limited, justification is based on evidence from Fragaria for fruit production.

CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Disqualified: The 'substantially free from' requirement is considered to be sufficient, no significant impact evidence for ornamentals, and measures should not be stricter than for fruit plants.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
Yes

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Delisting.

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
Yes

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
Delisting.


REFERENCES:
  • CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International), online, 2016. Datasheets Aphelenchoides besseyi (rice leaf nematode). Invasive species compendium. CABI, Wallingford, UK. Available from http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/6378;
  • EPPO (2008) Certification scheme for strawberry. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 38, 430–437;