Diseases of plantation Eucalyptus in the Republic of Congo

Plantation forestry, based on Eucalyptus species and clones, has been pract ised in the Republic of Congo since the early 1950s. A survey of plantation s in the Pointe-Noire area undertaken in 1998 identified the diseases affec ting plantation eucalypts. These included Cryphonectria canker, Botryosphae ria canker, Cylindrocladium leaf blight and bacterial wilt. A new and serio us disease of eucalypts, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, was reported for the first time during this survey. A number of secondary, opportunistic fu ngi were also isolated from diseased tissue. We believe that the impact of these diseases will increase in future, as clonal forestry is practised mor e extensively. Disease management programmes should thus be established to reduce losses.