No abstract

Apricot aphid, Myzus mumecola (Matsumura) (Homoptera: Aphididae), was recorded as a new pest of apricot in Hungary in the spring of 2020. Identification was based on morphological and genetical (mitochondrial COI region) characteristics. M. mumecola most likely arrived in Hungary in the last 2–3 years and has quickly become a widespread pest causing significant damage to young apricot trees. Colony development, damage and differences in susceptibility between cultivars are described. The presence of Plum pox virus in M. mumecola samples was detected, and all isolates belonged to the PPV-D subgroup. Illustrations of the most important diagnostic characters of M. mumecola are provided.

Due to their importance as biological control agents, we analysed the colonization of two pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars by culturable endophytic fungi in natural sandy soil in the open field and under soil-free conditions in the greenhouse, respectively. In natural soil, we observed a significant difference in colonization rates between the cultivars ‘Hó’ and ‘Kápia’. Colonization rates were always lower in the greenhouse than in the open field. Colonization was enhanced towards the end of the growing period and organ-specific differences were also observed. On the basis of colony morphology, 15 separate groups were identified for future sequence-based identification.