Phytophthora ramorum will he become the nightmare of the French forests ? This fungus, first discovered in France in 2017 in the Finistère, authorities are concerned about. The national Agency of sanitary security (Anses) has published a document to alert on it, in order ” to monitor its spread and eradicate the homes contaminated.” Because Phytophthora ramorum is sadly known for the havoc he has already caused elsewhere in the world, as explained in 20 Minutes.

A population of oak trees was decimated in the 1990s by this fungus in the United States, while plantations of larches of Japan in Great Britain in 2009. In 2010, the ministry of Agriculture was concerned about is already possible ravages of this fungus, which had caused the death “of millions of trees” in the United States according to a press release alarmist published at the time. “The disease is manifested by spots on the foliage related to a major amount of spores. The issuance of these spores can colonize the trees then marked by flows of resin on the trunk, ” explained the press release.

“eradication Measures” for infected trees

Found on larch in Japan in the Finistère, this mushroom has confirmed its dubious distinction : “the tops of The trees had browned and all the needles had fallen at the same time “, tells the story of a 20-Minute Philippe Reignault, director of the laboratory of plant health of the Coves. In its statement, Anses points the finger at ” significant risk for many plants, ornamental and forest, without, however, being able to make an accurate list.

The Anses recommends an “intensive supervision” in Brittany and in areas climatically favorable to development, such as the Normandy or the Limousin, but also to stop the planting of three species of larch in these areas because of their vulnerability to fungus. She wants an intensification of controls in the garden centres and nurseries ornamental also, the fungus that poses a risk to the rhododendrons.

“In case of detection of Phytophthora ramorum in the forest, the Agency recommends that eradication measures are taken vis-à-vis forest species infected,” says the Handles, who does not see other solutions to avoid a spread of the fungus.