NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Alternaria linicola (ALTELI)
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: Oil and fibre plants sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
Not relevant
Conclusion:
- Candidate: Oil and fibre plants sector
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 Denmark, France, Ireland, Sweden, UK (CABI, 2008).
HOST PLANT N°1: Linum usitatissimum (LIUUT) for the Oil and fibre plants sector.
Origin of the listing:
3 - Oil and fibre plants sector: Council Directive 2002/57/EC
Plants for planting:
Seeds
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:
A. linicola was found in six flax cultivars, sometimes with more than 20% infected seeds in one cultivar. Samples of another seed lot tested in the UK had an incidence of 34% A. linicola. The pathogen seriously decrease emergence when infected seed is sown. Also airborne spores and crop debris play a lesser role in the transmission of this fungus. It was demonstrated that conidia produced on crop debris on the soil surface could increase the incidence of infected seedlings which emerged from infected seed. They also demonstrated that A. linicola could survive between successive linseed crops on volunteer linseed plants and on the weed Veronica persica (CABI, 2008). Debris and weed control can be controlled by the grower using rotation and airborne spores to some extent by isolation.
5 - Economic impact:
Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
Yes
Justification:
The sowing of infected seed can reduce crop emergence and cause a subsequent loss in yield. Losses are greater when a cold wet spell follows sowing (CABI, 2008). In Pakistan yield losses of between 22.22% and 58.44% were recorded in a trial of seven cultivars (Singh et al., 2014). The SEWG indicated that this pest is really damaging in fibre production in Normandie, France. Incidence in CZ varies from year to year depending on climate conditions and on the use of resistant varieties.
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:
The SEWG considered that there are evidences of non-acceptable economic impact in the EU (e.g. In Normandie, France). Impact is variable from year to year.
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:
a) Laboratory tests according to ISTA Methods;
b) treatment of seeds with registered plant protection products.
b) treatment of seeds with registered plant protection products.
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:
Recommended for listing as an RNQP, based on data.
8 - Tolerance level:
Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
No
Proposed Tolerance levels:
Basic and certified material:
(a) Seed treatment authorised for use against Alternaria linicola has been applied;
or
(b) Not more than 5% of seed affected with Alternaria linicola, Boeremia exigua var. linicola, Colletotrichum lini, Fusarium spp based on laboratory test of a representative sample.
(a) Seed treatment authorised for use against Alternaria linicola has been applied;
or
(b) Not more than 5% of seed affected with Alternaria linicola, Boeremia exigua var. linicola, Colletotrichum lini, Fusarium spp based on laboratory test of a representative sample.
9 - Risk management measures:
Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
No
Proposed Risk management measure:
Justification (if necessary):
The SEWG noted that some member states currently have additional requirements for thresholds for this pathogen in field inspection of Linum.
REFERENCES:
- CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International), online, 2008. Datasheets Alternaria linicola (seedling blight of flax). Invasive species compendium. CABI, Wallingford, UK. Available from http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/4513;
- Singh RB, Singh HK & Parmar A (2014) Yield Loss Assessment Due to Alternaria Blight and its Management in Linseed. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 17: 511-516;