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Plant status is influenced not only directly by climate changes, but also by these changes related activity of other organisms: pathogens and pests. Some of these organisms in past 10-20 years have been spreading very aggressively and make a lot of damage to different types of plants. Several decades ago in Europe a spread of aggressive pathogen from Phytophthora genus fungi was noticed. In Europe most species of Phytophthora were detected on trees of Quercus and Alnus genera; 4-8 species -- Acer, Betula, Aesculus, Tilia, Fraxinus; 1-2 species injure Salix, Populus, Prunus, Campinus, Corylus. During 2009-2012 in 17 districts of Lithuania trees with infection signs to Phytophthora genus pathogens from 14 genus and 22 species were documented. The higest percentage of disturbed trees was observed among Acer genus (52%). More than a half of documented treees were young individuals growing nearby water sources. Typical disturbance symptoms of trees are bleeding spots on stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of alien invasive species of Phytophthora genus causing serious tree diseases was carried out in Lithuania. The presence of Phytophthora spp. DNA was recorded for the first time using real-time PCR analysis on 23 DNA samples. The sampling included wood from diseased trees, shrubs, leaves baited in water, and soil samples taken around the diseased plants. Extracted DNA was tested for the presence of Phytophthora. All analysed samples were positively recognized by Phytophthora-specific probe during real-time PCR which proved the presence of pathogens in environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]