Disease Note

Needle Disease Found on Pines in South Africa, Caused by Lophodermium australe, L. seditiosum, and L. indianum. . C. Roux, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. J. E. Lundquist, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. Plant Dis. 68:628. Accepted for publication 2 April 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-628e.

During a routine survey of commercial pine plantations during 1982-1983, three Lophodermium species new to South Africa were discovered: L. australe Dearn. associated with Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. at Hogsback State Forest in the eastern Cape and with P. canariensis C. Sm. at Dargle State Forest in Natal; L. seditiosum Minter, Staley & Millar associated with P, oocarpa Schiede at Kwambonambi State Forest in Zululand and with P. canariensis at Isidenge State Forest in the eastern Cape; and L. indianum Singh & Minter associated with P .radiata D. Don at Isidenge State Forest and with P. ponderosa Laws. at Kwambonambi State Forest. In each case, fruiting bodies were associated with tip dieback of living secondary needles. The three Lophodermium species have never been reported on these pine hosts, and L. seditiosum and L. indianum have never been found in Africa.