Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

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




NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Botrytis cinerea (BOTRCI)


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):
 
Remark on taxonomy: According to the International Commission of the Taxonomy of Fungi, the list of plant pathogenic fungi (posted 08/25/2015) by the International Subcommission for the Taxonomy of Phytopathogenic Fungi was updated (http://www.fungaltaxonomy.org/index.php/download_file/view/132/1/). According to this list the appropriate name should be Botrytis cinerea.

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 worldwide (Ellis & Waller, 1974).

HOST PLANT N°1: Lactuca sativa (LACSA) for the Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
2 - Vegetable seedling sector: Commission Directive 93/61/EC

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):
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Not candidate

 
Justification:
 
This worldwide ubiquitous fungus survives in and around fields and glasshouses as a saprophyte on dead or decaying plants and crop debris, as sclerotia in the soil and is also a pathogen on many types of crops or wild plants. Windborne spores develop from these sources and infect damaged or senescent tissues and will quickly infect new tissue under suitable conditions. Seedlings for transplanting may become infected or contaminated with sporangia but crops can be routinely protected with fungicides and/or by manupulating ventilation and heating (Ellis & Waller, 1974; Compendium of Lettuce Diseases, 1997). Crops planted into the field or glasshouse will be quickly be subjected to windborne infection from many outside sources. Therefore although plants for planting are a pathway, it is not considered they will be a significant source compared to these other pathways.


CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Disqualified: plants for planting are not considered to be the main pathway.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
No

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Delisting.

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
No

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
Delisting.


REFERENCES:
  • Ellis MB & Waller JM (1974) Sclerotinia fuckeliana. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria 431, Set No 44;
  • Compendium of Lettuce Diseases (1997). The American Phytopathological Society;