Phytophthora on Aesculus hippocastanum L. (horse chestnut)

In Europe Aesculus hippocastanum L. (horse chestnut) is an important tree species in the roadside, in parks, alleys and in gardens. This tree species grows predominately in the temperate climatic zones (distribution map for A. hippocastanum see http://www.discoverlife.org). Horse chestnut is non-native in Central Europe. It originated from mountain forests in Greece, Albany and Bulgaria from where it was introduced to the western parts via Vienna by humans in the 16th century. Horse chestnuts can reach a maximum age of around 200 years. There are different cultivars of Aesculus hippocastanum like ‘Baumannii’, ‘Globosum’ and ‘Pyramidalis’. Aesculus hippocastanum is also a parent of the red flowering hybrid A. x carnea (Red Horse Chestnut). A famous cultivar of this hybrid is ‘Briottii’.