Plant Protect. Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/64/2025-PPS

First detection of Eremothecium coryli, a plant pathogenic yeast transmitted by Halyomorpha halys, in the Czech RepublicShort Communication

Tomáš Tonka1, František Lorenc1, Jana Ouředníčková2, Oldřich Pultar2
1 Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
2 Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology Holovousy Ltd., Holovousy, Czech Republic

We report the first detection of the plant pathogenic yeast Eremothecium coryli in the Czech Republic and identify the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, as a vector. E. coryli causes yeast spot diseases in crops such as soybeans, hazelnuts, and tomatoes, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The yeast was identified in the foregut of H. halys specimens collected in a cherry orchard near the hazelnut shrubs using PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS and LSU gene regions. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the identity of E. coryli and its association with H. halys, as discussed.

Keywords: ascomycetous yeast; stigmatomycosis; brown marmorated stink bug; yeast spot disease; invasive species; molecular detection; pathogen identification

Received: April 24, 2025; Revised: January 20, 2026; Accepted: February 4, 2026; Prepublished online: September 8, 2026 

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