First record of Chalara fraxinea in Finland and genetic variation among isolates sampled from Aland, mainland Finland, Estonia and Latvia

P>We have isolated and confirmed the identification of ash dieback fungus (Chalara fraxinea, teleomorph Hymenoscyphus albidus) for the first time in Finland. In a preliminary analysis, considerable amount of genetic variation was detected among 20 Finnish (Aland and mainland Finland), one Latvian and 11 Estonian isolates, analysed by random amplified microsatellite (RAMS) markers.