During the characterization of symbiotic bacteria of Hungarian entomopathogenic nematode isolates, a number of bacteria (including strain 3107^T) isolated from Heterorhabditis downesi and Heterorhabditis megidis showed only moderate 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of all described Photorhabdus species and subspecies. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the phylogenetic relationships of these isolates were uncertain, because of the low bootstrap values. Using gyrB sequences for phylogenetic analysis, these isolates were shown to be part of the species Photorhabdus temperata, with clear separation from both Palaearctic and American strains (phylogenetic distances are 6.9 and 7.9 %, respectively). Physiological properties and carbon-source utilization profiles supported the phylogenetic position of these strains; therefore, a novel subspecies, Photorhabdus temperata subsp. cinerea subsp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 3107^T (=DSM 19724^T =NCAIM B 02271^T).

Seven Gram-negative bacterial strains were isolated from oozing bark canker of poplar (Populus×euramericana) trees in Hungary. They showed high (>98.3 %) 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Lonsdalea quercina ; however, they differed from this species in several phenotypic characteristics. Multilocus sequence analysis based on three housekeeping genes (gyrB,atpDandinfB) revealed, and DNA–DNA hybridization analysis confirmed, that this group of bacterial strains forms a distinct lineage within the species Lonsdalea quercina . A detailed study of phenotypic and physiological characteristics confirmed the separation of isolates from poplars from other subspecies of L. quercina ; therefore, a novel subspecies, Lonsdalea quercina subsp.populi,type strain NY060^T( = DSM 25466^T = NCAIM B 02483^T), is proposed.

In September 2017 brown or black, huge circular sunken necrotic lesions were observed on walnut fruits (Juglans regia L.) in the fruit variety collection of NARIC Research Institute in Érd, Hungary. Similar symptoms were visible on walnut fruits in three other locations of the country in 2018, the disease symptoms occurred diffusely (in orchards of Lengyeltóti, Nagyoroszi) or widely (in orchards of Sarród, Érd). Early symptom stages were observed in June 2018 with small dry spots affecting the surface of the husk. Acervuli were formed on collected fruit samples and orange conidial masses appeared under wet conditions. Conidia were hyaline, unicellular and fusiform, pointed at one or both ends, and measured 11.0-17.6 x 3.8-5.0 µm (n = 100). The fungus was isolated from necrotic tissues and conidial masses on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium amended with chloramphenicol (25 mg/l). The colonies were white to pink on the upper side and pink with black spots on the reverse. Acervuli formed and produced conidi...

Certain apple cultivars accumulate to high levels in their nectar and stigma exudate an acidic chitinase III protein that can protect against pathogens including fire blight disease causing Erwinia amylovora.