Risk assessment and reduction options for Ceratocystis platani in the EU

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Forestry
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Ceratocystis platani is a destructive pathogen affecting Platanus trees, currently present in France, Greece, and Italy.
• The European Commission requested a risk assessment to evaluate risk reduction options (RROs) for C. platani.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of RROs against Ceratocystis platani based on its identified spread mechanisms.
• To evaluate the risk of introduction and spread of C. platani within the EU under different scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Risk assessment considering three scenarios: current situation (A0), no RROs (A1), and additional RROs (A2).
• Analysis of spread mechanisms including natural and human-assisted means (waterways, root anastomosis, tools, machinery, insects, frass, sawdust).
• Evaluation of main entry pathways: plants for planting, wood, and machinery.

Main Results:

• The risk of new C. platani introductions is limited but significantly higher (250x) in the A1 scenario compared to A2.
• Machinery is identified as the most critical factor for long-distance spread.
• Focusing additional RROs on machinery, currently unregulated, is crucial for reducing spread.

Conclusions:

• Targeted RROs, particularly for machinery, are effective in reducing the spread and impact of C. platani.
• Harmonizing and enhancing emergency measures, including surveillance, early detection, eradication, and planting resistant clones, is recommended.
• Intensified surveillance is advised for EU Member States not yet affected by C. platani.