First report of Diplodia corticola in Greece on kermes oak (Quercus coccifera)

Abstract

In 2007, symptoms of extensive branch and shoot dieback were observed on kermes oak (Q. coccifera) shrubs and trees in some localities in the Messinia prefecture of south western Peloponnese, Greece. The symptoms were more intense during the summer, with abundant dead branches and twigs with wilted leaves. Cankers were detected on the branches and twigs showing symptoms. Cankers were also evident on larger branches with no apparent foliar symptoms. In many of the branch samples taken, dark brown to black pycnidia were observed to emerge through the bark on the canker surfaces. Morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequences of the ITS region of ribosomal DNA (GenBank accession nos. GQ396149-GQ396153) confirmed the identification of the fungus as D. corticola. This is the first record of D. corticola in Greece and Q. coccifera is a new host of the fungus in Europe.