Plant health alerts: Greece – Last Week of May 2025

Introduction – Summary

During the last week of May 2025, there was increased activity of insect pests and fungal diseases in Greece’s major crops. The following alerts and instructions concern grapevine, olive, apple, pear, pistachio, and stone fruits, aiming at timely protection of production and ensuring product quality. Recommendations are tailored per crop, region, growth stage, and pest/disease.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera)

Regions: Crete (Heraklion, Lasithi, Chania, Rethymno) – 26/05/2025
Stages: Flowering, fruit set, berry development

Grapevine Moth (Lobesia botrana)

Status: The second flight of the insect is underway, peaking in the intermediate zone of Heraklion and Lower Messara on May 27–28, in the mid-early zone on May 30–June 1, and in the early areas of Chania–Rethymno on May 27–28. Captures in pheromone traps are steadily increasing.

Symptoms: Infestation of flowers and young berries, with larvae inside flowers and fruits.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Sprays in the intermediate zone: May 27–28; in the mid-early zone: May 30–June 1.
• Ensure thorough coverage of grape clusters, preferably at dusk.
• Repeat spraying where increased infestation is observed.

Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator)

Status: Weather conditions favor the disease, especially at the stages of flowering–fruit set–berry development.
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves, flowers, and berries.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Combine application with grapevine moth treatment where possible.
• Continue protection with intervals according to the product used.
• Prefer sulfur dusting at flowering–fruit set stages, avoiding application at temperatures above 30°C.

Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola)

Status: The risk of severe infestations is lower due to lack of rain, but vigilance is needed in areas with symptoms or rainfall.
Symptoms: Yellowish spots on leaves, white coating on the underside.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Keep vineyards protected at sensitive stages (flowering–fruit set), especially if rain or dew is expected.
• Sprays before rainfall and in areas where symptoms have been identified.

Leafhoppers (various species)

Status: Increased populations in some locations.
Symptoms: Yellowing of leaves, sticky secretions.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Check 100 random leaves (1–2 per vine) for nymphs/adults.
• Spray only if 50–100 individuals are found per 100 leaves, preferably combined with grapevine moth treatment.
• Avoid unnecessary sprays to prevent resistance developement of the pest.

Olive tree (Olea europaea)

Regions: Crete – 28/05/2025, Central Greece – 30/05/2025
Stage: Fruit set – early fruit development

Olive Fruit Moth (Prays oleae)

Status: The fruit generation has started, with a steady increase in adult captures in traps after fruit set27.
Symptoms: Infestation of young fruits (drop of small fruits – “pepper”, drop of larger fruits – “kalogri”), larvae inside the pit.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Monitor pheromone traps in your olive grove.
• Spray with an approved insecticide when most fruits reach 4–5 mm in diameter and are smaller than 8–9 mm.
• Repeat spraying if necessary, depending on captures and the product’s duration of action.
• Avoid bee-toxic products during flowering or apply them late in the afternoon.

Rhynchites (Rhynchites cribripennis)

Status: Appearance of adults and infestations in fruits of 5–6 mm diameter.
Symptoms: Holes in fruits, fruit drop.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with a suitable insecticide where infestations are observed.

Otiorhynchus (Otiorhynchus cribricollis)

Status: Infestations observed on leaves and shoots.
Symptoms: Damage to leaves and shoots, mainly at night.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Localized sprays where problems are observed. - Consult your local licensed agronomist

Scale insects (Pollinia pollini, Aspidiotus nerii, Parlatoria oleae)

Status: Localized infestations on leaves and fruits.
Symptoms: Spots, swellings, tree weakening.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Localized sprays with approved products, monitor populations.

Apple – Pear (Malus domestica – Pyrus communis)

Region: Crete – 30/05/2025
Stage: Fruit development

Codling Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella)

Status: Activity continues, with increased need for protection3.
Symptoms: Infested fruits with larvae, fruit drop.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with approved insecticide June 1–3. - Consult your local licensed agronomist

Sesia (Sesia myopiformis)

Status: Infestations observed on shoots.
Symptoms: Infestation on shoots, tree weakening.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Protect at critical stages, spray where infestations are observed.

Apple and Pear Scab (Venturia inaequalis – apple, Venturia pirina – pear)

Status: Favorable conditions for the disease.
Symptoms: Spots on leaves and fruits.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with suitable fungicide, prevent spread. - Consult your local licensed agronomist

Powdery Mildew (Oidium farinosum)

Status: Favorable conditions for the disease.
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves, shoots.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with suitable fungicide, repeat if necessary. - Consult your local licensed agronomist

Pistachio (Pistacia vera)

Region: Central Greece – 29/05/2025
Stage: Development of new leaves and fruits

Pistachio Psylla (Agonoscena pistaciae)

Status: Insect activity has started and is locally increased4.
Symptoms: Nymphs and adults on the underside of leaves, tree weakening.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Check trees for presence of the insect.
• If infestation is found, spray with an approved plant protection product. - Consult your local licensed agronomist
• Be careful to preserve natural enemies.

Stone Fruits (Cherry, Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, Plum)

Region: Central Greece – 30/05/2025
Stage: Fruit development to ripening

Monilia (Monilinia spp.)

Status: Unstable weather with frequent rains and cool temperatures favors the disease, especially in ripe fruits56.
Symptoms: Fruit rot, brown spots, mold.

Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Immediate spray with approved fungicide.
• For cherries, stop irrigation a few days before harvest to avoid fruit cracking.

Coryneum Blight (Clasterosporium carpophilum)

Status: Frequent rains and humidity favor the disease.
Symptoms: Spots on leaves and fruits, holes.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with approved fungicide, especially if no treatment was made at petal fall. - Consult your local licensed agronomist
• Pay attention to the interval between last treatment and harvest.

Cylindrosporium Leaf Spot (Cylindrosporium padi)

Status: Favorable conditions for the disease in cherries.
Symptoms: Spots on leaves.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Continuous protection with fungicide as long as weather instability lasts.

Powdery Mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa)

Status: Dry weather and sunshine favor the disease, mainly in young trees and late varieties.
Symptoms: White powdery coating on shoots, leaves, fruits.
Instructions – What farmers should do:

• Spray with fungicide at the appearance of symptoms, repeat according to the product. - Consult your local licensed agronomist

Final Remarks

The last week of May 2025 was characterized by increased activity of key pests and diseases in all main crops. Producers are urged to closely monitor their crops, use only approved plant protection products, and strictly follow usage instructions to protect both production and consumer and environmental safety. Timely and rational management is critical to avoid significant losses in this year’s harvest.

For detailed information and technical bulletins, visit the official website of the Ministry of Rural Development & Food:
Agricultural Warnings – minagric.gr

Find more information about the best practices for plant protection of apple and pear trees as well as grapevines in the following articles:

Common Grapevine Pests and Diseases

Identification and management of Tent caterpillars (Malacosoma sp.) in apple trees

Major Pests and Diseases in Apple Trees: Identification, Symptoms, and Management

Peach Pests and Diseases