THE SYMPTOMS AND CAUSE OF GUAVA WILT IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Wilt of guava (Psidium guajava), a serious disease occurring in most g uava producing areas of the Northern and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, was shown to be induced by a fungus tentatively identified as Penicillium vermoesenii. This fungus is the cause of a blight of orna mental palms in the United States and Belgium and its occurrence on gu ava is enigmatic. Pathogenicity tests were conducted in the glasshouse and under field conditions. Symptoms on trees include wilting, chloro sis and defoliation.