Cryphonectria parasitica (chestnut blight) in Victoria

Publication Date

Thu, 28 Jul 2022, 01:20

Last Updated

July 28, 2022, 1:22 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-110/2

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Cryphonectria parasitica - (ENDOPA)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Chestnut (Castanea sativa) is considered the primary host but oaks can also be affected.

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

Chestnut blight occurs in Japan, China, Korea, USA, Canada, and throughout Europe. In Australia, the disease has only been detected in north-east Victoria.

Summary

In 2010 Chestnut blight was detected at two properties in Eurobin, Victoria with subsequent detections made in Eurobin in the following years. A Nationally cost-shared eradication response was undertaken in Victoria and ran until October 2019. In October 2019 it was determined that Chestnut blight is no longer technically feasible to eradicate from Australia, after further detections of the disease in 2017 and 2018.

The Victorian Government and Chestnuts Australia Inc. (CAI) are working in partnership to apply official controls for the disease. CAI and the chestnut industry deliver a surveillance and infected tree removal program that is supported by Victorian Government policy and classification of C. parasitica as an exotic pest under the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010. This ensures any infected host tree is rapidly removed and infection containment is achieved.

Danger

Chestnut blight is a serious fungal disease which mostly affects the trunk and branches. It invades stems and branches of any size and causes cankers that can grow rapidly. In most cases, these cankers continue to develop until the stem or branches are girdled and the tree is entirely colonised and eventually dies. Chestnut blight is considered a significant and damaging disease of chestnut and is a quarantine pest for Australia. It poses a threat to Australia's small but locally important chestnut industry. Chestnut and oak trees also offer significant amenity value as street and garden trees in southern areas of Australia.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected]

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