FABI Articles : A fungus from Africa threatens our Eucalyptus plantations
previous pageFungi, best known as the group of organisms that include mushrooms, are known for their beautiful and colourful fruiting bodies that we see in our gardens and our forest floors. Many fungi are, however, inconspicuous and much less obvious, although equally beautiful. While most are friends, some of these fungi are destructive plant killers and these seriously threaten South Africa's agricultural and forestry crops.

Figure 2. (A) Glory Bush tree (B) Waterberry tree (C) Waterberry seeds (D)
Waterberry flower.
Chrysoporthe canker on Eucalyptus trees in South Africa can cause serious economic losses to the forestry industry and our research team at FABI has many studies to reduce its impact. However, perhaps more perplexing is the fact that an entirely new disease of Eucalyptus has emerged in the world. The fungus that causes the disease can very easily be moved accidentally to Australia where Eucalyptus are native an the result could be disastrous for the biodiversity of that country. Every effort must be made to prevent it from moving to other parts of the world. At the same time, substantial efforts are needed to protect Eucalyptus in South Africa from being damaged and reducing the profitability of forestry in this country.
1. Myburg H, Gryzenhout M, Heath R, Roux J, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ (2002). Cryphonectria canker on Tibouchina in South Africa. Mycological Research 106, 1299-1306.
Heath, R.N., J. Roux, M. Gryzenhout, A.J. Carnegie, I.W. Smith and M.J. Wingfield. 2007. Holocryphia eucalypti on Tibouchina urvilleana in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 36: 560-564.