Abstract

Based on information in the literature and unpublished records a brief synthesis on alien pathogens of forest trees in Austria is presented. A total of 29 pathogens were recorded, consisting of one bacterium, nine Phytophthora species, 14 ascomycetes, three anamorphic fungi and two basidiomycetes. The majority of alien pathogens (23 out of 29) occur on hardwood species. Six pathogens have had a high impact on their host trees and have considerably impaired their use in forestry and/or their role in ecosystems. Four of the six pathogens with high impact affect hardwood trees. Due to climate change the importance of some alien forest pathogens already present in Austria may increase in the future.

Key words: Invasive forest pathogens, introduced pathogens, emerging forest diseases, biological invasion, forest pathology.