Leaf diseases caused by Mycosphaerella species in Eucalyptus globulus plantations and nearby native forest in the Green Triangle Region of southern Australia

Barber, P.A., Carnegie, A.J., Burgess, T.I. and Keane, P.J. (2008) Leaf diseases caused by Mycosphaerella species in Eucalyptus globulus plantations and nearby native forest in the Green Triangle Region of southern Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 37 (5). pp. 472-481.

Abstract

There are over 60 species of Mycosphaerella known from eucalypts, and several are serious pathogens of Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Australia and elsewhere, being associated with a syndrome called Mycosphaerella leaf disease. The Green Triangle region (south-west Victoria and south-eastern South Australia) is a major focus of the expansion of E. globulus in Australia, with over 125 000 ha planted since 1998. In this paper, we report the first comprehensive survey for species of Mycosphaerella in this expanding estate and assess the damage from these species from 1999 to 2002. There was an increase in the incidence of Mycosphaerella leaf disease in these plantations during the survey period, and five species of Mycosphaerella were identified from E. globulus plantations in the region: M. cryptica, M. nubilosa, M. parva, M. tasmaniensis and M. aff. vespa. M. cryptica, M. nubilosa and M. parva were the most common. M. cryptica was also found in native forest in the region, as was Sonderhenia eucalyptorum (telemorph, M. swartii). Morphological and phylogenetic comparisons were made with previously described species and confusion over the taxonomy of some of these species is discussed.