TWO HITHERTO UNRECORDED FUNGAL DISEASES ATTACKING PINES AND EUCALYPTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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Abstract
South African forestry has been particularly fortunate in the past in the almost complete absence of serious fungal disease attacking plantations of exotic trees. The more important diseases which have occurred are briefly reviewed. In recent years two hitherto unrecorded fungal diseases have made their appearance in pine and eucalyptus plantations in Natal. A disease of P. taeda trees at Laings Nek plantation, which appears to be caused by Stereum sanguinolentum, A & S Fries., and is characterized by extensive root and stem rot, is described. The second disease dealt with is caused by Ganoderma colossum, (Fr.) Bres., and was found to be attacking P. hondurensis, Callitris robusta, and several eucalyptus species, in the sub-tropical coastal areas of Natal. In the case of P. hondurensis, attack is characterised by extensive root and collar-rot which generally so weakens the living tree that it is blown over, although in some cases trees die standing. In the eucalyptus species and Callitris robusta, trees were invariably killed due to a disorder of the root system, and advanced decay was never observed.

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