Outbreak of shoot blight and dieback of Eucalyptus spp., caused by Pseudoplagiostoma eucalypti in Brazil

• Published in: Forest pathology = Journal de pathologie forestière = Zeitschrift für Forstpathologie Vol. 53; no. 2
• Main Authors: Zauza, Edival Ângelo Valverde, Silva Guimarães, Lúcio Mauro, Sales, Nilza de Lima Pereira, Santos, Samuel Alves, Alfenas, Rafael Ferreira, Alfenas, Acelino Couto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-04-2023
• Subjects: Blight; Cryptosporiopsis; Defoliation; Dieback; Eucalypt diseases; Eucalyptus; leaf spot; Leafspot; mini‐cankers; Outbreaks; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Phylogeny; Physical characteristics; Shoot blight; Signs and symptoms; Brazil
• ISSN: 1437-4781; 1439-0329
• DOI: 10.1111/efp.12806

An outbreak of a new and severe disease was observed in Eucalyptus plantations of Bahia state, Brazil. An Ascomycota fungus has been frequently associated with the main symptoms of the disease namely leaf spot, branch cankers, shoot blight, defoliation, and dieback. Based on morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analysis (ITS and TEF‐1α genes), and pathogenicity test on Eucalyptus plants, Pseudoplagiostoma eucalypti was identified as the causal agent of the disease. Although P. eucalytpi has been known from in Brazil since 1998, this is the first report of it causing severe disease and die‐back on Eucalyptus spp. and we also record new symptoms associated with the pathogen.