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

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