Bernard Slippers1, 2, Rimvis Vasiliauskas2, Brett Hurley1, Jan Stenlid2 and Michael J Wingfield1
1 Tree Protection Co-operative Programme, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2 Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

The Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria and the Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Uppsala, Sweden are collaborating on a study of the Siricid-Fungal symbiosis, and its parasites. This project aims to address questions in two general areas, namely (a) the evolution and biology of mutualistic symbiosis and (b) the monitoring and control of wood inhabiting pests and pathogens that threaten biodiversity and forest production in introduced and native environments.

Knowledge of forest/tree fungi on the African continent is very limited, particularly those of indigenous African tree species. In the earlier part of the previous Century, up to around 1960, some research was conducted into diseases of plantation tree species, but during the course of the last 40 years very few publications relating to this field has appeared from Africa, particularly countries north of South Africa. Information concerning macro-fungi has been more consistently published in several excellent publications, but there remains a tremendous shortage of information pertaining to tree related fungi from Africa. We need only attend any international congress to note the lack of information from Africa in phylogenetic trees and other studies.

Introduction

Fig. 1. Chalara elegans (Thielaviopsis basicola), the causal agent of black pod rot of groundnut.

A.J. Cilliers
ARC Grain Crops Institute Potchefstroom This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important protein crop planted on approximately 150 000 ha in South Africa. The groundnut pods, being borne underground, are particularly susceptible to various soilborne fungal pathogens, including the black hull fungus Chalara elegans Nag Raj & Kendrick (Fig. 1). Black pod rot or black hull (Fig. 2) results in severe pod and kernel damage of groundnut in South Africa (10,13), and was first isolated from groundnuts in this country by Jooste in 1979 (7). In South Africa the disease is observed mainly on pods of groundnuts plants, but may also occur on the roots (10). The disease reduces both yield and kernel quality thereby reducing the value of groundnut consignments (16).

Early blight symptoms

Jacquie van der Waals
Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology University of Pretoria This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Early blight, which is caused by Alternaria solani Sorauer, is a major foliar disease of potatoes, causing premature defoliation. The disease is widespread in most areas where potatoes or tomatoes are grown, but is especially prevalent in the tropics and temperate zones. Early blight is found in all provinces in South Africa and is a limiting factor in production in late summer.