NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Botrytis allii (BOTRAL)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST
Name as submitted in the project specification (if different to the preferred name):
Pest category:
Fungi
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: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
Not relevant
Conclusion:
- Candidate: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
Justification (if necessary):
Usually, B. allii is associated with "neck rot" of onions. Neck rot symptoms may also be induced by other Botrytis species, like B. byssoidea (Schwartz&Mohan 2008: APS compendium of Onion and Garlic diseases). Therefore the organism listed (here B. allii) is only one part of the problem.
2 – Status in the EU:
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
No
Presence in the EU:
Yes
Conclusion:
candidate
Justification (if necessary):
The pest is present in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, poland, Romania and UK (CABI 1987).
HOST PLANT N°1: Allium cepa Aggregatum types (Allium ascalonicum) (ALLAS) for the Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector.
Origin of the listing:
RNQP Questionnaire
Plants for planting:
Plants intended for planting
3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
No
Conclusion:
Evaluation continues
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:
The SEWG agreed that sets are a significant pathway of B. allii.
5 - Economic impact:
Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
Yes
Justification:
Fewer references to the effect of B. alli in shallots were found, however treating shallot bulbs before planting with benomyl (to date not registered in EU) or dipping in a solution, gave excellent control of grey mould and greatly increased the yield (Vergniaud et al., 1972). Other harvest losses in store are assumed to be similar to those as described under onion (A. cepa).
What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
Medium
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:
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:
We have no data about the efficacy of fungicides against B. allii in set production (including sclerotia formation). In Germany fungicides are registered to control B. squamosa.
7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
Yes
Conclusion:
Candidate
Justification:
CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
Not recommended for listing as an RNQP: This pest/host/intended use combination meets all the criteria for RNQP status but the requirement for absence of visual symptoms on the traded material (current general 'Substantially free from' requirement in the EU) is considered to be sufficient.
8 - Tolerance level:
Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
No
Proposed Tolerance levels:
9 - Risk management measures:
Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
No
Proposed Risk management measure:
REFERENCES:
- CABI (1987) Distribution map for Botrytis allii. Distribution Maps of Plant Diseases (Edition 4), Map 169;
- Ellis MB & Waller JM (1974) Botrytis allii. CMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria 433, Set No 44;