First report of Phytophthora nicotianae associated with Eucalyptus die-back in South Africa

Eucalyptus species, hybrids and clones are planted commercially in South Africa for the production of pulp and paper and various other forest products. However, some species such as E. smithii Baker are susceptible to root and collar rot associated with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands (Linde et al., 1999). Since 1999, P. nicotianae Breda de Haan (synonym, P.n .var parasitica (Dastur) Waterhouse), not P. cinnamomi, has been recovered from dead and dying Eucalyptus trees such as E. macarthurii Deane & Maiden and E. smithii. Phytophthora nicotianae is a soilborne pathogen often isolated from forest soils (Shearer et al., 1988). In South Africa it is well known as the causal agent of black butt on Acacia mearnsii de Wild (Roux & Wingfield 1997).

In the field, one-year-old infected trees had typical symptoms of Phytophthora root and collar rot. First disease symptoms included chlorosis of the leaves as well as gum exudation through the cankers on the tree collar. As the disease progressed, the trees usually wilted and died due to girdling. Disease symptoms were reproduced on field-grown trees inoculated with different P. nicotianae isolates. Necrotic lesions with gum exudates were observed above the inoculation point, 30 days after inoculation.

Subsequent to the discovery of the root disease caused by P. nicotianae, several recently established E. smithii plantations in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa were surveyed. P. nicotianae was recovered from 45% of soil samples and 60% of diseased plant material. P. cinnamomi was recovered from only 5% of soil samples and 12% of diseased plant material.

Phytophthora isolates from soil and diseased material were identified using morphological features (Stamps et al., 1990). The A1 and A2 mating types were determined by pairing P. nicotianae isolates obtained with known tester strains using the method described by Erwin & Ribeiro (1996). Oospores were produced following pairing with tester isolates and all isolates proved to be of the A2 mating type. Isolates have been deposited into the culture collection of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria.

Phytophthora nicotianae, rather than P. cinnamomi, is emerging as a more serious threat to a number of cold tolerant Eucalyptus spp. in South Africa. Since 1999 P. nicotianae has been recovered from dead and dying eucalyptus species such as E. fastigata, E. elata, E. macarthurii, E. nites, E.dunii and E.smithii.