A decline of beech trees caused by Phytophthora pseudosyringae in central Italy

In summer 2003, mature trees of European beech (Fagus sylvatica)with bark cankers on the lower stem, were observed in a semi-natural pure forest within theprotected area of the Abruzzo National Park (centralItaly). Most affected trees were alongside pathsand in coppiced stands. Symptoms of trunk gummosiswere identical to those incited on beech and otherbroadleaved trees by different Phytophthora species, A homothallic species of Phytophthora with semi-papillate sporangia was consistently isolatedfrom cankered bark. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize the Phytophthora speciesassociated with basal trunk gummosis of beech in theAbruzzo National Park.