First report of Cryphonectria carpinicola in Hungary and Slovakia (Central Europe)

Abstract

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is an economically significant tree species, serving as a valuable resource for timber and ornamental wood products. It plays a crucial ecological role within forest communities and exhibits wide distribution across Central Europe. During October 2022 and March 2023, we encountered instances of declining hornbeam trees in Hungary and Slovakia. In both cases, characteristic symptoms associated with Cryphonectria canker were observed. Subsequent morphological and molecular-genetic analyses of fungal samples and isolates confirmed their identification as the recently described species Cryphonectria carpinicola. This study represents the first documented report of this pathogen in Hungary and Slovakia, contributing to our understanding of its presence and impact in Central Europe.