Investigation of fungi associated with stem cankers of eucalypts in Tasmania, Australia

Abstract

A survey of stem fungi and associated canker diseases in eucalypts in natural forest and plantations was conducted in Tasmania. A total of 209 samples representing 29 fungal species was obtained. Thirteen of the fungal species detailed in this survey have not been described or previously reported in Australia. The three species most frequently encountered were Endothia gyrosa, Cytospora eucalypticola and Valsa sp., constituting 23.9%, 20.6% and 12.9%, respectively, of the 209 collections. They were ubiquitous, with each species found on more than ten eucalypt species. Fungal species with low incidence but associated with severe cankers were Harknessia cf. eucalypti, Phoma sp., Seiridium eucalypti and Zythiostroma sp.