Susceptibility​ ​and​ ​prevalence​ ​of​ ​​Eucalyptus​ ​pellita F.Muell.​ ​to​ ​the​ ​cancer​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​​Chrysoporthe​ ​cubensis (Bruner)​ ​Gryzenhout​ ​&​ ​M.​ ​J.​ ​Wingf.​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Colombian Orinoquia

Abstract

Eucalyptus cancer caused by ​Chrysoporthe cubensis is one of the most limiting diseases for ​Eucalyptus ​plantations in the tropical region. In order to confirm the cancer causal fungus observed in the commercial plantations of ​E. pellita in the Colombian Orinoquia and explore the possible difference in the susceptibility of some commercial clones of the region, the pathogen was isolated from diseased tree tissue. The strains obtained were inoculated in young plants belonging to ten clones, including one control of ​E. urophylla under greenhouse conditions. The mean wound length was compared for up to 53 days after inoculation, with two isolates of the pathogen. The prevalence of cancer was also estimated in a 7-year-old ​E. pellita plantation. Based on symptoms, and macro and microscopic morphological characters, the isolates were identified as ​Chrysoporthe cubensis and with the use of the molecular markers ITS5 and ITS4 as ​C. cubensis and ​C. doradensis​. All clones evaluated showed susceptibility to ​Chrysoporthe ​attack. Although eucalyptus cancer is a common disease, this is the first record of ​C. cubensis and ​C. dorandesis in ​E. pellita plantations in Colombian Orinoquia. Given the favorable conditions for the development of the disease in the region, it is recommended to continue the selection​ ​and​ ​evaluation​ ​efforts​ ​to​ ​have​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​tolerant​ ​material.

Keywords

• eucalyptus canker
• ​chrysophorte doradensis ​gryzenh. & m.j. wingf.
• incidence
• colombian​ ​orinoquia
• severity
• symptoms