First Report of Phomopsis amygdali Causing Twig Canker on Almond in Hungary

In April 2014 bud necrosis and severe twig dieback were observed on almond trees in the fruit variety collection of NARIC Fruitculture Research Institute in Erd, Hungary, and in different locations of the country. The disease symptoms occurred widely. The disease, according to the morphological data of the fungus and the observed specific symptoms and the results of pathogenicity tests were identified as constriction disease of almond caused by Diaporthe amygdali (Delacroix) Udayanga, PW Crous & KD Hyde (anamorph: Phomopsis amygdali (Delacr.) J.J. Tuset & M.T. Portilla). This disease is widespread in orchards of Hungary but without control. This is the first report of this disease and its pathogen in Hungary.