<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Canker and needle blight of <italic>Araucaria heterophylla</italic> (Norfolk Island pine) trees were observed during the surveys conducted in Addis Ababa and Adama cities (Ethiopia) from November to December 2016. The main objective of this study was to investigate fungal pathogens that cause diseases on <italic>Araucaria heterophylla</italic> trees. Six localities with <italic>Araucaria heterophylla</italic> plantings were purposively surveyed for disease symptoms. Samples from symptomatic parts of trees were collected, surface sterilized, cultured on PDA and morphologically identified for genus and species. A total of 36 isolates of fungi were identified. Based on macro- and microscopic morphological features of the colonies, the fungal isolates were found to be the genus <italic>Diplodia</italic> and species <italic>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</italic> (Pat.) Griffon &amp; Maubl (syn. <italic>Botryodiplodia theobromae</italic>), the anamorph of <italic>Botryosphaeria rhodina</italic> (Berk. &amp; M.A. Curtis) Arx. The pathogenicity test showed that the isolates of <italic>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</italic>, caused stem canker and needle blight on <italic>Araucaria heterophylla</italic>. This finding is important in the study of management options for future prevention and control of diseases in the country.</p></abstract>

Canker and needle blight of Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) trees were observed during the surveys conducted in Addis Ababa and Adama cities (Ethiopia) from November to December 2016. The main objective of this study was to investigate fungal pathogens that cause diseases on Araucaria heterophylla trees. Six localities with Araucaria heterophylla plantings were purposively surveyed for disease symptoms. Samples from symptomatic parts of trees were collected, surface sterilized, cultured on PDA and morphologically identified for genus and species. A total of 36 isolates of fungi were identified. Based on macro- and microscopic morphological features of the colonies, the fungal isolates were found to be the genus Diplodia and species Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl (syn. Botryodiplodia theobromae), the anamorph of Botryosphaeria rhodina (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Arx. The pathogenicity test showed that the isolates of Lasiodiplodia theobromae, caused stem canker and needle blight on Araucaria heterophylla. This finding is important in the study of management options for future prevention and control of diseases in the country.

First Report of <italic>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</italic> Causing Needle Blight and Stem Canker Diseases on <italic>Araucaria heterophylla</italic> in Ethiopia

Central Ethiopia Environment and Forest Research Center, Forest protection Process

Journal of Horticultural Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

First Report of  Causing Needle Blight and Stem Canker Diseases on  in Ethiopia

Canker and needle blight of Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) trees were observed during the surveys conducted in Addis Ababa and Adama cities...

First Report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Causing Needle Blight and Stem Canker Diseases on Araucaria heterophylla in Ethiopia

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 15 - 18

Received: Apr 01, 2017

Accepted: Oct 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/johr-2017-0014

Keywords
needle blight, stem canker

© 2017 Wendu Admasu Darge, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

First Report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Causing Needle Blight and Stem Canker Diseases on Araucaria heterophylla in Ethiopia

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 15 - 18

Received: Apr 01, 2017

Accepted: Oct 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/johr-2017-0014

Keywordsneedle blight, stem canker

© 2017 Wendu Admasu Darge, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
needle blight, stem canker