CANKER AND DIEBACK OF EUCALYPTUS IN SOUTH-AFRICA CAUSED BY BOTRYOSPHAERIA-DOTHIDEA

Die-back and canker of several Eucalyptus species and clones were observed during a survey of the most important forestry areas of South Africa. Disease was often associated with extreme environmental conditions such as drought, hot winds and frost. Botryosphaeria dothidea, which is well known as a cause of canker and die-back of Eucalyptus in other countries, was consistently isolated from symptomatic trees. Artificial inoculations of Eucalyptus nitens resulted in lesion development, confirming the pathogenicity of B. dothidea to Eucalyptus in South Africa. This is the first report of this disease in South Africa.