Showing papers by "Michael J. Wingfield published in 2003"
TL;DR: Fusarium is one of the major fungal genera associated with maize in Africa and this genus comprises several toxigenic species including F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, which are the most prolific producers of fumonisins.
Abstract: Fusarium is one of the major fungal genera associated with maize in Africa. This genus comprises several toxigenic species including F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, which are the most prolific producers of fumonisins. The fumonisins are a group of economically important mycotoxins and very common contaminants of maize-based foods and feeds throughout the world. They have been found to be associated with several animal diseases such as leukoencephalomalacia in horses and pulmonary oedema in pigs. Effects of fumonisins on humans are not yet well understood. However, their occurrence in maize has been associated with high incidences of oesophageal and liver cancer. Infection of maize by Fusarium species and contamination with fumonisins are generally influenced by many factors including environmental conditions (climate, temperature, humidity), insect infestation and pre- and postharvest handling. Attempts to control F. verticillioides and to detoxify or reduce fumonisin levels in maize have been undertaken. However, more research studies are urgently needed in order to understand more about this toxin. Fumonisins are less documented because they are recently discovered mycotoxins compared to aflatoxins. To date in Africa, apart from South Africa, very little information is available on Fusarium infection and fumonisin contamination in maize. It is a matter of great concern that on this continent, millions of people are consuming contaminated maize and maize-based foods daily without being aware of the danger. Key words : Fusarium, fumonisins, maize, Africa.
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 570-579, December 2003
221 citations
TL;DR: Results provide strong evidence to show that the B morphotype isolates are distantly related to S. sapinea and represent a discrete taxon, which is described here as Diplodia scrobiculata sp.
150 citations
TL;DR: Evidence to suggest that native pathogens, previously thought to be relatively host specific and non-threatening, are adapting to infect exotic plantation trees is suggested to suggest the sustainability of exotic plantation forestry is under threat.
Abstract: Plantation forestry in the Southern Hemisphere has grown dramatically in the last hundred years. This has largely been due to the exceptional growth and performance of exotic species, particularly Pinus, Eucalyptus and Acacia. It is generally recognised that the success of these plantations has, at least in part, been due to the separation of the trees from their natural enemies. In this regard, the trees have performed similarly to weeds. Indeed, in some situations, species regarded as highly desirable for forestry are also recognised as noxious weeds. The artificial barrier between exotic plantation species and their pathogens is, however, crumbling. Despite intensive efforts to exclude pests and pathogens from countries now dependent on plantations of exotic trees, new and seriously damaging incursions are occurring with increasing frequency. Cryphonectria canker of Eucalyptus caused by Cryphonectria cubensis provides an important and interesting example and is used in this paper to illustrate emerging trends. These include evidence to suggest that native pathogens, previously thought to be relatively host specific and non-threatening, are adapting to infect exotic plantation trees. Other than the damage that these pathogens are causing to exotics, they now pose a serious threat to the same or related tree species in their areas of origin. This tremendous threat is only just being recognised and it is little understood. This is, at least in part, due to a poor understanding of the taxonomy and ecology of even some of the better known tree pathogens. Intensive efforts will be required to protect the sustainability of exotic plantation forestry. They will also be needed to ensure that ‘new pathogens’ do not lead to destruction of the same or related tree species in their areas of origin.
143 citations
TL;DR: The results confirm earlier suggestions that S. schenckii should be classified within the teleomorph genus Ophiostoma but support studies separating O. stenoceras and S.Schenkii.
Abstract: Ophiostoma stenoceras is a well-known sapwood-colonizing fungus occurring on some coniferous and hardwood hosts in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the fungus has been reported only from New Zealand. The human pathogen, Sporothrix schenckii, has been suggested to be the anamorph of O. stenoceras. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationship between these two species. The study also provided the opportunity to confirm the identity of some Sporothrix and O. stenoceras-like isolates recently collected from wood and soil around the world. For this purpose, the DNA sequence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the ribosomal RNA operon was determined. Isolates of O. nigrocarpum, O. albidum, O. abietinum, O. narcissi and O. ponderosae, all morphologically similar to O. stenoceras, were included in the study. From phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data, four main clades were observed. These represented O. stenoceras, O. nigrocarpum and two separate groups containing isolates of S. schenckii. Our results confirm earlier suggestions that S. schenckii should be classified within the teleomorph genus Ophiostoma but support studies separating O. stenoceras and S. schenckii. Ophiostoma albidum and O. ponderosae should be considered synonyms of O. stenoceras. The status of O. narcissi and O. abietinum needs further clarification. The two groups within S. schenckii might represent two species, but this needs to be confirmed. This study represents the first reports of O. stenoceras from Colombia, Kenya, Uruguay and South Africa.
108 citations
TL;DR: The global distribution of Botryosphaeria spp.
Abstract: Botryosphaeria spp. occur on and cause dis- eases of Proteaceae, but accurate identification has been problematic due to the lack of clear species cir- cumscriptions of members of this genus. In this study, 46 isolates of Botryosphaeria from proteaceous hosts growing in various parts of the world were studied, using morphology, cultural characters and sequence data from the ITS region of the rDNA operon. Five Botryosphaeria spp. were found to be associated with Proteaceae. Botryosphaeria lutea was isolated from Banksia and Buckinghamia spp. in Australia, and a single isolate was obtained from Protea cynaroides in South Africa. Botryosphaeria proteae was associated only with South African Proteaceae, but occurred in many parts of the world. Another Botryosphaeria sp. that occurred exclusively on South African Protea- ceae represents a new taxon that is described as B. protearum. This pathogen was found on South Afri- can Proteaceae cultivated in Australia; Hawaii; Por- tugal, including the Madeira Islands; and South Af- rica. Botryosphaeria ribis was associated with both South African and Australian Proteaceae and was iso- lated from material collected in Australia, Hawaii and Zimbabwe. A single occurrence of B. obtusa as an endophyte was recorded from P. magnifica in South Africa. In addition to providing a taxonomic overview of Botryosphaeria spp. associated with Proteaceae, this paper clarifies for the first time the global distribu- tion of these species. A key also is provided to facili- tate their identification. A large number of new host
93 citations
TL;DR: A new Ceratocystis species is described, C. pirilliformis, from artificially induced wounds on Eucalyptus nitens near Canberra in southeastern Australia, which has hat-shaped ascospores similar to those of C. fimbriata but differs in that it possesses ascomata with a pyriform base.
Abstract: Several species of Ceratocystis have been recorded on Eucalyptus. These include C. fimbriata, C. eucalypti, C. moniliformis and C. moniliformopsis. Of these, only C. fimbriata is known as a pathogen; it recently has been found causing serious wilt diseases in Uganda, Congo and Brazil. This study was undertaken to collect Ceratocystis species, including C. eucalypti, from artificially induced wounds on Eucalyptus nitens near Canberra in southeastern Australia. Trees were wounded in October 2000, and wounds were examined approximately one month later. Ascomata characteristic of a Ceratocystis species were found covering the wounds, and this fungus also was isolated from the wood using carrot baiting. This species of Ceratocystis has hat-shaped ascospores similar to those of C. fimbriata, but it differs from C. fimbriata and all other species of Ceratocystis in that it possesses ascomata with a pyriform base. Comparison of DNA sequences from the ITS and 5.8S rRNA operon confirmed that the fungus from E. nitens in Australia is unique, and we describe it here as a new species, C. pirilliformis.
63 citations
TL;DR: Previously unidentified isolates collected from trees with symptoms of Armillaria root rot in Chile, Indonesia and Malaysia are considered and ITS sequences of the isolates obtained from basidiocarps resembling A. novae-zelandiae are most similar to those for this species.
Abstract: Armillaria root rot is a serious disease, chiefly of woody plants, caused by many species of Armillaria that occur in temperate, tropical and sub- tropical regions of the world. Very little is known about Armillaria in South America and Southeast Asia, although Armillaria root rot is well known in these areas. In this study, we consider previously un- identified isolates collected from trees with symptoms of Armillaria root rot in Chile, Indonesia and Malay- sia. In addition, isolates from basidiocarps resembling A. novae-zelandiae and A. limonea, originating from Chile and Argentina, respectively, were included in this study because their true identity has been uncer- tain. All isolates in this study were compared, based on their similarity in ITS sequences with previously sequenced Armillaria species, and their phylogenetic relationship with species from the Southern Hemi- sphere was considered. ITS sequence data for Armil- laria also were compared with those available at GenBank. Parsimony and distance analyses were con- ducted to determine the phylogenetic relationships between the unknown isolates and the species that showed high ITS sequence similarity. In addition, IGS-1 sequence data were obtained for some of the species to validate the trees obtained from the ITS data set. Results of this study showed that the ITS sequences of the isolates obtained from basidiocarps
55 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that species of the O. piceae complex are common in the Southern Hemisphere, and that current views on the origins of especially O. quercus need to be reconsidered.
53 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that virus-free fungal hosts can be successfully transfected with viruses other than the Cryphonectria parasitica hypovirus.
Abstract: Diaporthe perjuncta is a pathogen of grapevines worldwide. A positive-strand RNA virus, Diaporthe RNA virus (DaRV), occurs in hypovirulent isolates of this fungus. A virus-free isolate from a South African grapevine was transfected with in vitro-transcribed positive strands of DaRV. Based on reverse transcription-PCR and partial sequence analysis, the transfected virus was identified as DaRV. The in vitro-transcribed RNA transcripts used to transfect fungal spheroplasts contained parts of the vector at their distal ends. These vector sequences were separated from the DaRV genome during replication in the new host. The transfected isolate had morphological features that differed from those of the isogenic virus-free strain, including production of a yellow pigment, a decreased growth rate, and lack of sporulation. An apple-based pathogenicity test did not reveal any differences in virulence between the virus-free and DaRV-transfected isolates. This study showed that virus-free fungal hosts can be successfully transfected with viruses other than the Cryphonectria parasitica hypovirus.
47 citations
TL;DR: The synonymy of the two fungi is recognized but evidence is provided that other fungi, more closely related to Cryphonectria spp.
TL;DR: From the RFLP profiles, sequencing results and sexual compatibility studies, it is concluded that the two species on Proteaceae in Kirstenbosch represent A. mellea and A. gallica, northern hemisphere fungi that have apparently been accidentally introduced into South Africa.
Abstract: Armillaria root rot symptoms were observed on native Protea and Leucadendron (Proteaceae) species in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Intergenic spacer (IGS)-1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) profiling indicated the presence of at least two Armillaria species. The profiles of two isolates were identical to those of A. mellea s. str., originating in Europe. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and IGS-1 sequence data identified the remaining isolates as closely related to A. calvescens , A. gallica , A. jezoensis and A. sinapina . These isolates displayed mating compatibility with A. gallica. From the RFLP profiles, sequencing results and sexual compatibility studies, it is concluded that the two species on Proteaceae in Kirstenbosch represent A. mellea and A. gallica . These are northern hemisphere fungi that have apparently been accidentally introduced into South Africa. This is the second report of Armillaria being introduced into South Africa. The introduction probably occurred early in the colonization of Cape Town, when potted plants from Europe were used to establish gardens.
TL;DR: In this article, the internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal RNA operon of the Ceratocystis sp. were amplified and sequenced to determine the cause of Eucalyptus wilt.
Abstract: Uruguay has a rapidly growing forestry industry consisting mainly of exotic Pinus and Eucalyptus spp. Recently, there have been reports of individual E. grandis trees wilting and dying rapidly in plantations. The aim of this investigation was to survey the dying E. grandis in the Rivera area of Uruguay and to determine the cause of the Eucalyptus wilt. Sap-staining symptoms were observed on recently pruned E. grandis. Discs of discoloured wood were cut from these pruned trees and from the stems of dying trees. These disks were stored in a moist environment to induce fungal sporulation. Ascomata, typical of a Ceratocystis sp., were found covering the edges of the wood where streaking symptoms occurred. Morphologically, the fungus resembles C. fimbriata. The internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal RNA operon of the Ceratocystis sp. were amplified and sequenced. Sequence data confirmed placement of this fungus amongst other isolates of C. fimbriata. Furthermore, the sequence data showed that the Uruguay isolates are most closely related to those from diseased Eucalyptus spp. in Brazil, Congo and Uganda. C. fimbriata is a well-known pathogen of many woody plants and could constitute a serious threat to intensively managed E. grandis in Uruguay where the fungus was not previously known. The relationship between the pruning of E. grandis and infection by C. fimbriata will, in future, need to be evaluated.
TL;DR: Preliminary evidence is found that relationships among isolates are more closely linked to host than to geographical origin, and simple sequence repeat markers developed for the pathogen and blue stain fungus are found to be polymorphic.
Abstract: Nineteen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed for the pathogen and blue stain fungus Botryosphaeria rhodina. Eight pairs were found to be polymorphic among isolates collected from Pinus spp., whereas a further five pairs were polymorphic when isolates from Pinus spp. were compared with those from Eucalyptus spp. Nine isolates of B. rhodina collected from pines and eucalypts in South Africa, Mexico and Indonesia were used to demonstrate the range of the markers. Testing the markers yielded preliminary evidence that relationships among isolates are more closely linked to host than to geographical origin.
TL;DR: Analyses of micromorphology and phylogenetic analyses of aligned 18S and ITS sequences suggest that these two species are congeneric and should be classified in Graphium but that they represent distinct species.
Abstract: Two fungi associated with bark beetles, Graphium pseudormiticum (described in 1994) and Rhexographium fimbriisporum (described in 1995), have two micromorphological characters in common. Both species produce conidia with conspicuous basal frills, and the conidia align in chains, despite being produced in slime. The association of G. pseudormiticum with the pine bark beetle, Orthotomicus erosus, and the association of R. fimbriisporum with the spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, suggest ecological differences between the two fungal species. Analyses of micromorphology and phylogenetic analyses of aligned 18S and ITS sequences suggest that these two species are congeneric and should be classified in Graphium but that they represent distinct species. A collection of strains tentatively identified as Graphium spp., isolated from Ips typographus on Picea abies, Ips cembrae on Larix decidua and Tomicus minor on Pinus sylvestris in Austria share the same unusual basal conidial frills and conidial chains. Isolates from spruce were identified as G. fimbriisporum and those from pine as G. pseudormiticum. The strains from Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, distinguished by the reddish color of their colonies, microscopic structures and molecular characteristics, are described as the new species Graphium laricis sp. nov., and the close relationship of this species with the other two species is confirmed.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This is the first general evaluation of plantation diseases in Ethiopia and provides a foundation for future planting and disease management strategies, with a view to enhancing commercial timber production.
Abstract: A survey of diseases of exotic trees in plantations was undertaken in southern and southwestern Ethiopia during 2000 and 2001. Our aim was to ascertain the occurrence and distribution of diseases of major plantation species and to provide a basis for further research. Root, stem and leaf samples were collected from both plantations and trees growing near farms and homesteads in and around Wondo Genet, Munessa Shashemene, Jima, Bedele, Mizan and Menagesha. Armillaria root rot was the most common disease, associated mainly with Pinus patula , but also found on Acacia abyssinica, Cordia alliodoral/ig and Cedrela odorata . Stem cankers associated with ligBotryosphaerial/ig species were common on Eucalyptus globulus, E. salignal/ig and E. citriodora . Stem canker disease associated with a ligConiothyriuml/ig species was commonly observed on E. camaldulensis . Leaf blotch associated with ligMycosphaerellal/ig species was common on E. globulusl/ig in most areas where this species is planted. In addition, Sphaeropsis sapineal/ig on ligPinusl/ig species, cankers associated with ligCytosporal/ig species, and pink disease caused by Erythricium salmonicolorl/ig on Eucalyptus , were also recorded in some plantations. This is the first general evaluation of plantation diseases in Ethiopia and provides a foundation for future planting and disease management strategies, with a view to enhancing commercial timber production.
TL;DR: Two distinct Cryphonectria spp.
Abstract: Cryphonectria cubensis is an economically important pathogen of commercial Eucalyptus spp. Differences have been reported for disease symptoms associated with Cryphonectria canker in South Africa and other parts of the world, and recent DNA-based comparisons have confirmed that the fungus in South Africa is different from that in South America and Australasia. During a disease survey in the Republic of Congo, Cryphonectria canker was identified as an important disease on Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla. In this study, we compared Congolese and South African isolates of C. cubensis using DNA sequence data and pathogenicity under greenhouse conditions. The β-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences show that C. cubensis in Congo is different from the fungus in South Africa and that Congolese isolates group most closely with South American isolates. Furthermore, pathogenicity tests showed that a South African isolate was more aggressive than two Congolese isolates. We conclude that two distinct Cryphonectria spp. occur in Africa and hypothesize that the fungus in the Congo probably was introduced into Africa from South America. Both fungi are important pathogens causing disease and death of economically important plantation trees. However, they apparently have different origins and must be treated separately in terms of disease management and quarantine considerations.
TL;DR: The morphological heterogeneity among species of Phialocephala clearly is reflected by phylogenetic analysis of sequence data from two conserved rRNA gene regions, and appropriate genera now need to be found to accommodate these fungi.
Abstract: Phialocephala was established for species in the Leptographium complex that produce conidia from phialides at the apices of dark mononematous conidiophores. Some species previously included in Phialocephala were re-allocated to Sporendocladia because they resembled Thielaviopsis in having ring-wall-building conidial development and conidia with two attachment points that emerge in false chains. Despite this significant realignment of the genus, a great deal of morphological heterogeneity remains in Phialocephala. The objective of this study was to consider the heterogeneity among Phialocephala spp. based on comparisons of sequence data derived from the large and small subunits (LSU and SSU) of the rRNA operon of species in Phialocephala. Phialocephala dimorphospora, the type species of the genus, and P. fortinii grouped with genera of the Helotiales in phylogenetic trees generated based on the LSU and SSU datasets. Phialocephala xalapensis and P. fusca clearly are unrelated to Phialocephala sensu stricto ...
TL;DR: Differences in IGS-1 sequences strongly suggest that the Zimbabwean groups represent three distinct taxa, similar to those identified as A. heimii and A. fuscipes.
TL;DR: The characteristic pustules and mor-phological examination of uredinia and urediniosporessed that the fungus was indistinguishable from rust.
Abstract: in Uruguay. The disease occurredonly in one plantation in the Levalleja area, and damagewas uniform throughout the stand. The rust producedegg-yolk yellow pustules on the leaves and resulted inshoot-tip dieback. The characteristic pustules and mor-phological examination of uredinia and urediniosporesshowed that the fungus was indistinguishable from
TL;DR: Results showed that C. eucalyPTi is capable of causing significant lesions on Eucalyptus clones and that disease development is strongly dependent on environmental factors.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This study identifies the causal agent of the disease as Coniothyrium zuluense and this is the first report of Coni Timothyrium stem canker from Argentina and Vietnam.
Abstract: During routine disease surveys of lIgEucalyptusl/Ig species in Argentina
and Vietnam, symptoms of a damaging stem canker disease were
observed. This study identifies the causal agent of the disease as Coniothyrium zuluense . This is the first report of Coniothyrium
stem canker from Argentina and Vietnam.
TL;DR: These markers originated from cloned intershort sequence repeat polymerase chain reactions, which enrich for medium to highly repetitive DNA sequences, which can subsequently be applied to study populations of C. cubensis.
Abstract: We describe the development of DNA markers for the fungal pathogen of Eucalyptus , Cryphonectria cubensis . These markers originated from cloned intershort sequence repeat polymerase chain reactions, which enrich for medium to highly repetitive DNA sequences. In total, 10 markers were isolated, eight of which were polymorphic, and these can subsequently be applied to study populations of C. cubensis .
TL;DR: A rapid seedling-based screening technique was developed to evaluate tobacco cultivars for resistance to P. nicotianae and a strong positive correlation was found between results of the seedling assay and adult plant trials for all isolates and cultivars tested.
Abstract: Black shank caused by Phytophthora nicotianae is a serious root and stem disease of cultivated tobacco worldwide. In this study, a rapid seedling-based screening technique was developed to evaluate tobacco cultivars for resistance to P. nicotianae. This technique was compared with a stem inoculation technique commonly used on adult plants. The overall aim was to develop an improved and rapid technique that could also be used to characterize races of P. nicotianae. A strong positive correlation was found between results of the seedling assay and adult plant trials for all isolates and cultivars tested. Furthermore, P. nicotianae isolates could be characterized as race 0 or 1 using both stem inoculation and the rapid seedling assay. This assay will facilitate rapid and large-scale screening for black shank resistance and therefore has the potential to reduce yield losses because of this disease in the field.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The name Ophiostoma quercus, for a well-known and economically important sapstaining fungus occurring world-wide on hardwoods and commercially produced pines, is to be preferred over O. querci in view of grammatical rules of Latin.
Abstract: The name Ophiostoma quercus, for a well-known and economically important sapstaining fungus occurring world-wide on hardwoods and commercially produced pines, is to be preferred over O. querci in view of grammatical rulesof Latin.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Although O. piliferum was not found in this investigation, the possibility that the fungus occurs in this country cannot be excluded and the isolates obtained might also be considered in the development of a hardwood alternative to Cartapip 97®.
Abstract: THE OPHIOSTOMATOID FUNGI INCLUDE various economically important plant pathogens and sapstain fungi belonging to genera such as Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis. Ophiostoma piliferum is considered important because a white mutant of this fungus, marketed as Cartapip 97®, is applied on pulpwood chips of primarily softwoods to reduce pitch and prevent sapstain. The South African forestry industry could benefit greatly from a biological control product such as this. The importation of a product based on a living organism can, however, be a problem owing to quarantine regulations. The aim of this study was to determine whether O. piliferum occurs in South Africa. A literature survey revealed at least 20 confirmed reports of ophiostomatoid species having been present, but O. piliferum was not among them. We therefore conducted a survey during which isolates resembling O. piliferum were collected from pulpwood chips and other freshly cut wood sources, the typical niche of ophiostomatoid fungi. Based on morphology, the isolates collected could be divided into three groups, of which none represented O. piliferum. The first group resembled O. stenoceras and the second group O. pluriannulatum. The third group was identified as either O. piceae or O. quercus, two species that cannot be distinguished on the basis of morphology. We expect that the identity of all three groups will be confirmed by molecular studies. Although O. piliferum was not found in this investigation, the possibility that the fungus occurs in this country cannot be excluded. The isolates obtained in this study might also be considered in the development of a hardwood alternative to Cartapip 97®.
TL;DR: The prevalence of this disease on a widely planted Eucalyptus species in Ethiopia is of great concern, not only to large-scale plantation development in the country, but also to rural tree growers who plant the tree to generate income.
Abstract: Eucalyptus camaldulensis was one of the first Eucalyptus species to be introduced into Ethiopia, and it has been widely planted at low altitude, where warm conditions prevail Wood from Eucalyptus plantations provides fuel, construction material and other forest products to local communities Recently, disease symptoms that resemble those of pink disease were observed on E camaldulensis planted at Pawe, Benshangul Gumuz region, north-western Ethiopia These symptoms are common on E camaldulensis trees growing at this locality The disease is characterized by branch dieback, stem canker, production of epicormic shoots, production of pink mycelial growth on the surface of infected tissue, and eventually death of trees Based on external symptoms, the disease on E camaldulensis in Ethiopia was identified as pink disease (Ciesla et al , 1996) To confirm the identity of the causal agent, the large subunit RNA (28S) operon was sequenced and analysed using Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (PAUP 4·0) The Ethiopian isolates were compared with two reference isolates of Erythricium salmonicolor (CBS 810·85 and CBS 168·82) Based on sequences (AF 506709), the Ethiopian and reference E salmonicolor isolates grouped together with 100% confidence level, separate from any of the other Corticiaceae (CI = 0·6243; RI = 0·6964) Results of the sequence data analysis thus supported our preliminary identification Isolates of E salmonicolor obtained from Ethiopia have been deposited in the culture collection of FABI, University of Pretoria Erythricium salmonicolor (synonym, Corticium salmonicolor ) is a member of the Corticiaceae (Basidiomycotina, Aphyllophorales) It attacks a wide range of hosts in the tropics, including Eucalyptus spp, coffee, rubber, cacao, tea and Acacia spp (Gibson, 1975; Sharma et al , 1984; Old et al , 2000) Pink disease is a serious problem of Eucalyptus in India and Brazil (Ciesla et al , 1996) Hence, the prevalence of this disease on a widely planted Eucalyptus species in Ethiopia is of great concern, not only to large-scale plantation development in the country, but also to rural tree growers who plant the tree to generate income The impact of this disease on other Eucalyptus spp, as well as on other exotic and indigenous tree species in Ethiopia, is not known and will receive attention in the future